Photo courtesy of PNP-CIDG
A late-night police operation in Navotas exposed an alleged unauthorized petroleum trading site, where authorities arrested three men and recovered fuel, tanker trucks and storage equipment valued at about P6.66 million.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said its operatives moved into the site in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran at around 11:45 p.m. on Sept. 12 following information about an alleged “paihi” operation.
Police said the three suspects were found engaging in the sale or transfer of petroleum products without the required authorization from the Department of Energy.
Instead of being limited to the fuel itself, the P6.66-million valuation covered the petroleum products, storage tanks, tanker trucks and other evidence taken into custody during the operation.
Personnel from the CIDG’s National Capital Region and Northern District units conducted the raid with the Northern Police District’s intelligence division and the Navotas City Police Station.
The alleged activity is being investigated for possible violations of Batas Pambansa Blg. 33, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1865, which regulates and penalizes certain prohibited practices involving petroleum products.
The term “paihi” is commonly used for the unauthorized diversion or removal of fuel from tanker trucks for resale, although investigators have yet to disclose in the supplied report how the petroleum seized in Navotas was obtained.
Authorities are expected to trace the origin and intended market of the fuel and determine whether other people were involved. The three arrested men remain subject to investigation and due process, and the allegations against them have yet to be established in court.
