As they continue to comply with their mandate to foil the entry of smuggled items into the country, the Bureau of Customs on Tuesday seized a motor tanker and several lorry trucks carrying smuggled fuel worth P128 million at a port in San Juan, Batangas.

In its report, the BoC team, led by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port, with the support of the Philippine Coast Guard’s Task Force Aduana and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Batangas, seized the motor tanker and trucks allegedly involved in the “paihi” modus at the Subukin Port in San Juan.

The raiding team seized a total of 217,000 liters of smuggled diesel, with an estimated value of P13,020,000. On the other hand, the motor tanker has an estimated value of P60 million, and the 11 lorry trucks are valued at P55 million (P5 million each).

BoC Commissioner Bien Rubio said the seizing of the motor tanker and the lorry trucks was made possible because of the “swift and decisive” action of the operative team after the BOC received derogatory information about the vessels.

“Our team effort resulted from the collaboration of our agency and other relevant government departments. The illegal and fraudulent entry of smuggled fuel and the 'paihi' system hurt not only our legitimate fuel distributors but more so our consumers, the Filipino people because unmarked fuel put them at risk and hazard,” he said.

“This is a critical and significant seizure because we need to make sure, as the agency at the forefront of border patrol, that only tested and safe fuel gets to our markets,” the commissioner added.

The operation at the Subukin Port in San Juan, Batangas yielded the motor tanker M/T Feliza, loaded with an estimated 200,000 liters of unmarked diesel, as well as 11 lorry trucks.

“The tanker and lorry both had failed results in the initial fuel sampling and testing conducted in the area by the SGS Fuel Marking Team-Batangas and our CIIS-MICP (Manila International Container Port) agents. The fuel marking was at zero percent,” said CIIS Director Verne Enciso.

The lack of proper fuel markings suggests the lack of payment of necessary taxes and duties on the seized fuel.

Director Enciso also said that the vessel’s captain, Adolfo Jabines Tindoy, was found hiding on the ship deck when the team boarded the tanker.

Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy noted how this seizure should underscore the importance of not only border control and patrol, but of the protection of the economy and consumers from fraudulent products.

“While our mandate is to protect and man our borders, it comes with the responsibility of making sure our consumers, especially those who purchase from small and independent retailers, have access to only legal, legitimate, and tested products, including fuel,” he said.

“We have made significant strides in protecting our consumers from these illegal products, but the work for us is never over. We commend our team for this operation but we must remain vigilant and even more committed now to put an end to this 'paihi' system,” Deputy Commissioner Uy added.

The owners, ship captain, and crew of the motor vessel and trucks are facing charges for violation of Sections 117 and 1113 of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, as well as RA 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law after they failed to present proper documents for the seized fuel.