BIR heeds PBBM’s call to combat illicit vape, cigarettes

MANILA – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said on Monday his office is heeding the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to continue its fight against illicit vape products and cigarettes.

Following the meeting of Marcos with the Private Sector Advisory Council-Agriculture Sector Group at Malacañang Palace last May 8, Lumagui said BIR officials were ordered to exert all efforts to catch illegal traders of vape and cigarettes whether they sell these products in physical stores or online.

Lumagui said the selling of illicit vape and cigarettes that evaded tax obligations is a crime.

“Since 2022, the BIR has not stopped raiding and filing cases against traders of illegal vape and cigarettes,” he said in Filipino in a video message released by the BIR.

The BIR raided a vape warehouse in Manila in November 2022, wherein it won the PHP1.2-billion criminal case early this year.

In January 2023, BIR launched for the first time a nationwide raid against illicit cigarettes, and filed a PHP1.8-billion criminal case in May 2023 as a result of the campaign.

It was followed by another nationwide raid against illicit cigarettes in July last year.

In November 2023, the BIR raided illicit cigarette traders and smugglers in Davao, with tax liabilities amounting to PHP252 million.

Last March, the BIR raided a vape warehouse in Manila, Laguna, and Rizal.

In the same month, illicit cigarettes were found inside three large warehouses in Cavite, with total tax liabilities amounting to PHP5.4 billion.

Lumagui said those found in possession and having control over illegal vapes and cigarettes are subject to criminal and administrative charges.

“We have warned you as early as 2022. We have raided and filed criminal cases as early as 2022. Register your business and pay your taxes. You are destroying an industry that provides millions of jobs to Filipinos," he said. (PNA)