Photo courtesy of PNP
Police intercepted thousands of liters of cooking palm oil and two trucks worth a combined Php 6.19 million in Puerto Princesa City after a person allegedly failed to show documents establishing the product’s source.
The operation was conducted in Barangay Bacungan on August 20 by personnel from the Puerto Princesa City Police Office, with assistance from Police Station 2 and the City Mobile Force Company.
Authorities initially recovered 18 liters of cooking oil that were allegedly sold to an undercover police officer during the operation.
A subsequent inspection uncovered more cooking palm oil stored in different containers. Police said two trucks were carrying approximately 3,600 liters and 5,400 liters, respectively.
The cooking oil was valued at about Php 880,992. The two vehicles were separately estimated at Php 3.7 million and Php 1.61 million, bringing the total value of the recovered items to Php 6,190,992.
Police said the person involved was unable to present documents showing where the cooking oil had come from. Authorities did not immediately provide further details on the origin or intended destination of the shipment.
“Kapag may kahina-hinalang galaw sa mga produktong pumapasok sa merkado, kailangan nating tingnan agad at maayos. The goal is not simply to make an arrest, but to make sure that legitimate businesses and consumers are protected and that every action we take can stand up to proper scrutiny,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said.
The individual remained in police custody along with the recovered oil and vehicles as authorities prepared appropriate complaints for referral to the Puerto Princesa City Prosecutor’s Office.