Photo courtesy of NBI/Facebook.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said his department has established contact with individuals claiming to have knowledge of the alleged involvement of two Central Luzon lawmakers in the illegal cigarette trade.
Remulla said the two congressmen, whom he declined to name due to ongoing case build-up, were being treated as persons of interest following the discovery of several suspected illicit cigarette plants in Pampanga.
Authorities earlier located four alleged facilities in San Fernando City, Mexico, and San Simon, which were believed to be linked to the operations under investigation.
The secretary said some associates of those implicated had come forward as witnesses and were expected to provide statements as the probe progresses.
He also alleged that the illegal cigarette activities in the province were being run by a syndicate purportedly connected to the lawmakers.
When asked about reports of a possible private armed group tied to the network, Remulla said the availability of funds could easily translate to access to firearms, without giving specific details.
The government intensified its crackdown on illicit cigarettes after a joint task force composed of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and other agencies was formed last December.
Remulla added that enforcement operations have included raids on around 200 small retail outlets suspected of selling untaxed cigarettes, noting that the focus of authorities remains on dismantling larger syndicates behind the trade while investigations continue.