(Photo courtesy of BIR)
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reported that 78 of 189 fuel stations inspected across 10 revenue regions failed field tests as of October 13, 2026, raising concerns over possible irregularities in fuel distribution.
The failed tests accounted for 41.3 percent of the stations inspected and involved approximately 900,250 liters of fuel inventory.
The inspections form part of the BIR’s expanded fuel marking operations aimed at combating illicit fuel trade, preventing tax evasion, and safeguarding government revenues.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the agency will conduct further verification and trace the sources of the fuel, including additional testing at distribution depots.
Mendoza clarified that a failed field test at a retail station does not automatically mean its fuel supplier violated regulations.
The BIR will continue its investigation to determine the cause of the test failures and identify any potential violations of fuel marking requirements.
