Daily Tribune
NBI Director Jaime Santigo and Ferdinand Lavin, spokesperson
John Carlo Magallon
The National Bureau of Investigation – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (NBI-BARMM), led by Director Jaime B. Santiago, arrested a man in a buy-bust operation for selling illegal vape products in Cotabato City.
The suspect, identified as John Rheven R. Mallari, will be charged for violating Republic Act No. 11900, otherwise known as the “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act,” and Republic Act No. 7394, or the “Consumer Act of the Philippines.”
The operation stemmed from a letter from the Department of Trade and Industry – Office for Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products, their Devices, and Novel Tobacco Products (DTI-OSMV). The letter, signed by Agent III Ramil A. Datusataviran, provided references to aid enforcement operations, including:
a.) a briefer on vape-related offenses with criminal penalties;
b.) a Social Card guide to assist in identifying non-compliant vapor products; and
c.) a link to the official DTI-OSMV website containing an updated list of PS license holders and trading suspensions.
Acting on this communication, the NBI conducted surveillance to verify the existence of a vape shop in Cotabato City. Once confirmed, a test buy was made.
On 5 August 2025, an entrapment operation was carried out. NBI agents observed that the vape store was openly displaying vape sets for sale without the proper point-of-sale signage required under R.A. No. 11900.
Some products bore Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) stickers, while others did not. During the operation, Mallari freely handed over vapes without BIR stickers and was immediately placed under arrest for the violations. He was informed of his constitutional rights before being taken to the NBI-BARMM office.
The suspect was later subjected to inquest proceedings before the Prosecutor’s Office of Cotabato City.
Santiago commended the NBI-BARMM for the successful operation, saying it demonstrated the Bureau’s continued commitment to pursuing and apprehending individuals engaged in illegal activities.
