February 25th, 2025
I commend Commissioner Rubio for immediately taking action on the suspected resale of seized cigarettes. At any given time, there are billions’ worth of smuggled or illicit cigarettes in government storages. We will make official inquiries in writing on whether it is possible to have Congress regularly updated on BIR and BOC’s inventory of illicit goods, particularly excisable goods like tobacco. For now, transparency in the government’s store of seized goods will help prevent future incidents.
As a matter of law, it does not make sense that government has large quantities of smuggled products in storage for evidence. In my House Bill No. 11286, or the Anti-Illicit Tobacco Trade Act, which the House approved on 3rd reading, I proposed the immediate destruction of all seized tobacco products, except a small amount retained for evidentiary purposes. This will decisively stop the practice of selling large volumes of seized smuggled tobacco.