The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has destroyed ₱156.25 million worth of illicit cigarettes in Northern Mindanao, reinforcing its nationwide crackdown on tax evasion, officials announced Thursday.
According to BIR Revenue Region 16 Officer-in-Charge Raihana Menelifa Lucman, the two-day destruction operation, which began on Wednesday, highlights the agency’s commitment to enforcing tax laws.
“This enforcement activity sends a clear message: the BIR will not hesitate to take decisive action against those who violate tax laws,” Lucman stated.
The campaign, a key priority under BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., targets illicit cigarettes, vapes, and other excisable goods that evade proper tax payments, affecting government revenue collection.
The confiscated goods, seized from January to early March with the help of the Police Regional Office 10 (Northern Mindanao), were destroyed to prevent their illegal resale in the market.