BIR destroys P2.1-B illicit cigarettes

PORAC, Pampanga — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) destroyed a total of 14.3 million packs of illicit cigarettes valued at around P2.1 billion, with an estimated tax liability of P6.4-billion at the Digama Waste Management Facility in this town on Monday.

BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said the event serves as the primary destruction hub as the BIR conducts nationwide destruction activities in 12 designated sites from 24 to 28 February.

The large-scale operation, he added, is a joint effort spearheaded by the Office of the Commissioner through the Large Taxpayers Service and the Operations Group’s 19 Revenue Regions.

“This initiative is a testament to our commitment to uphold the law and deter illicit activities. This is the rational next step from the nationwide raids we conducted since 2022 and the filing of the criminal charges against these unscrupulous individuals and corporations,” he said.

The BIR said that aside from preventing tax losses, the destruction of these illicit products addresses serious public health risks, as cigarettes from unknown sources pose exponentially higher hazards to both consumers and third party smokers due to the absence of quality control and regulation.

The commissioner also cited that the destruction of these illicit goods “is a crucial step in maintaining the integrity of our revenue collection, protecting the health of our citizens, and safeguarding the interests of legitimate businesses who properly file and pay the correct taxes due to the government.”