A tip from a netizen led the police to another warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga, right after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jose Melecencio Nartatez Jr., and officials of the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Department of Agriculture presented to the public three warehouses and manufacturing sites in Pampanga on Monday.

The tip came when the netizen realized they were seeing the same brands of smuggled and illegally manufactured cigarettes while watching the Facebook livestream of the press conference relating to the raids on three cigarette facilities on Monday (16 February). More than ₱70 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and raw materials for the manufacture of tobacco products were seized during the swift operation at the said warehouse.

Nartatez disclosed that shortly after the livestreaming of the press conference, a netizen informed the PNP, through an SMS, of the existence of a similar warehouse in a business park located in Barangay San Pablo Libutad in San Simon town. A team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) immediately proceeded to the area, and through the clear glass window of the warehouse, detectives were able to confirm the presence of illicit “Modern” and “HP” brand cigarettes inside the compound.

“This is another proof of what we can achieve if we all work together to enforce the law and maintain peace and order. Criminal elements and syndicates stand no chance to operate and conduct illegal activities in a community that is united and working together towards peace and development,” Nartatez said.

The successful operation, according to Nartatez, is what he was emphasizing when he pointed out the need to expand and further improve the good working relationship between the police and the community in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. and Secretary Remulla to maximize efforts to ensure that the rule of law prevails in the country.

“This successful operation is clearly a result of the renewed trust and confidence of the people to their Philippine National Police,” he said.

The CIDG operatives, under the guidance of CIDG Director P/Maj. Gen. Robert AA Morico II, then coordinated with local officials and other government agencies to inspect the warehouse. Verification with barangay officials disclosed that the target warehouse has no issued business permit.