Two men were arrested for alleged oil pilferage in Tubay, Agusan del Norte, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported filing 27 fuel-related cases nationwide since 1 March this year.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Agusan del Norte Provincial Field Unit apprehended the suspects, identified by their aliases “Ando” and “Bote,” at around 1:36 a.m. on 17 April in Barangay Santa Ana.

Police said the two, a truck driver and his helper, were caught in flagrante delicto, allegedly siphoning fuel from a tanker truck into barrels and smaller containers for unauthorized sale, a practice locally known as “paihi.” 

The tanker truck had reportedly come from Cagayan de Oro City and stopped along the roadside when the transfer took place.

Seized during the operation were a trailer tanker loaded with petroleum products and a barrel containing about 180 liters of fuel. 

Authorities estimated the total value of the confiscated items at P6.62 million.

The suspects are in police custody and are set to face charges for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1865.

In a separate update, the PNP said it has documented 27 cases involving fuel-related violations nationwide from 1 March to 18 April. These include seven cases of hoarding, one case of profiteering, and 19 others involving illegal storage, transport, and trading of petroleum products.

As of 6 a.m. on 18 April, the PNP also reported 294 gasoline stations temporarily closed out of 14,527 across the country.

Police said monitoring of fuel supply and related violations is being conducted in coordination with the Department of Energy and local price monitoring councils.