TATLONG gasoline station ang sinalakay at pansamantalang ipinasara ng mga tauhan ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) sa Bicol Region kung saan nakumpiska ang mahigit 39,000 litro ng non-compliant na gasolina na tinatayang P2.6 milyon ang halaga.

Kaugnay ito sa pagsugpo ng BOC sa talamak na fuel smuggling sa Port of Legazpi.

“During the random field testing conducted by the BOC Enforcement and Security Service (BOC-ESS) in coordination with Société Générale de Surveillance Philippines, both the initial and confirmatory tests found the marker below the required compliance threshold, indicating that the fuel was withdrawn to evade taxes and duties,” ayon sa BOC.

Dahil dito, inisyuhan ng Warrants of Seizure and Detention ang nasabing mga gasolina na nakaimbak sa sinalakay na gasoline stations dahil sa mga paglabag sa DOF-BIR-BOC Joint Circular No. 001-2021, na may kaugnayan sa Section 148-A ng Republic Act No. 8424, na kilala bilang “National Internal Revenue Code,” na tinutukoy rin ng Republic Act No. 10963, o mas kilala bilang ‘TRAIN LAW.

“These findings highlight the persistent challenges we face in enforcing fuel regulations. It is evident that some operators continue to defy compliance measures,” ayon kay District Collector Guillermo Pedro Francia IV.

“However, we are determined to identify and penalize those who are non-complaint due to threats to revenue and undermines lawful competitions,” dagdag pa ng opisyal.

(JESSE KABEL RUIZ)