The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) destroyed various unregistered cigarette-making machines and fake cigarettes to show that illicit manufacturing and tax evasion will not be tolerated by the government.
Four cigarette-making machines, six cigarette-packing machines, and one filter machine along with fake BIR stamps, various fake cigarettes, and raw materials and supplies were among those destroyed at DiGaMa Waste Management Facility in Brgy. Bayabas, this city, on August 22.
BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa, who led the activity, said it was the first time that destruction of confiscated machines and fake cigarettes was conducted in Mindanao.
He said the destruction will send a clear message that the government is not sleeping on its job to curb illegal manufacturing.
“With this, we can stop the illicit production of cigarettes and collect the right taxes which we need for our Build, Build, Build project. Tax is the lifeblood of the government, the government cannot function without these revenues,” he added.
In his message, BIR Revenue Region 16 Regional Director Nuzar Balatero said the items were seized in joint operations conducted by the BIR Strike Team, Regional Investigation Division, Crime Investigation and Detection Group, and the National Bureau of Investigation in warehouses located in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, and Brgy. Cugman and Alwana Business Park here.
“We are doing this activity to show that the BIR is serious in its operation of collecting the correct excise taxes. May this serves as a warning to all those perpetrators of illegal manufacturing, he further said.
Balatero also thanked the private sector, especially Philip Morris, for cooperating and joining forces with the government in fighting the manufacturing of fake cigarettes and tax evasion. (By Apipa P. Bagumbaran)
20
