By Leonardo V. Micua
Two congressmen from Northern Luzon have been tagged as alleged mastermind behind an illegal cigarette factory raided last week in Mexico, Pampanga, resulting in the arrest of six Chinese nationals believed to be its operators.
However, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has declined to name the lawmakers while further evidence is being sought against the two. While prudence is understandable, the silence risks casting a cloud of suspicion over other Northern Luzon legislators who have nothing to do with the case.
Compounding the issue is the emergence of similar illicit factories producing locally manufactured cigarettes in Sulu, Laguna, and Camarines Norte—indicating that similar illegal factories may exist elsewhere.
This could explain the sudden nationwide surge of so-called “smuggled” cigarettes that does not bear the graphic warnings provide by law, despite heightened vigilance by the Bureau of Customs. Recent seizures, including P8 million worth of cigarettes in Labrador, Pangasinan and confiscations of allegedly smuggled cigarettes in Dagupan and other parts of the country, point to an organized and well-funded network.
When traditional smuggling routes become more increasingly difficult to navigate, authorities believe that syndicates may be pivoting to manufacturing cigarettes locally. The involvement of Chinese nationals into this illicit operation raised concerns about its possible links to transnational criminal groups.
If these claims are substantiated, the participation by public officials would amount not just corruption but also economic sabotage.
But with the involvement of foreign nationals, in complicity with public officials, it is essential for lawmen to make decisive, swift and transparent action to dismantle this multi-billion criminal enterprise operating in our neighborhood.
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But what’s in STL that could even divide even the best of friends?