The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Revenue Region No. 13, Central Visayas Region, conducted the destruction of Seized and Forfeited Illicit cigarettes and related manufacturing materials on August 13, 2026. This scheduled destruction is the culmination of a series of relentless and intelligence-driven enforcement operations conducted by the BIR RR No. 13, through its Regional Strike Team from October 2024 to June 2025, against illegal cigarette manufacturing, storage and distribution activities within the province of Cebu.
These enforcement operations resulted in the seizure of various illicit cigarettes, counterfeit Internal Revenue stamps, manufacturing machines, cigarette raw materials, packaging materials, chemicals and other production supplies. From the foregoing enforcement operations, the aggregate tax liabilities, inclusive of administrative penalties, arising from the unlawful manufacture, possession, storage and distribution of illicit cigarettes amounted to TWO HUNDRED FORTY MILLION SIX HUNDRED FORTY-ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FORTY-SEVEN PESOS & 71/100 (PHP 240,641,547.71).
These accomplishments highlight the effectiveness of intelligence-driven enforcement, robust inter-agency coordination, and the Bureau’s steadfast commitment to enforcing the National Internal Revenue Code in support of the Government’s revenue generation and public protection objectives under the leadership of BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza.
The destruction of the seized illicit cigarettes and packing machines resulted from three enforcement operations conducted in Cebu Province and Mandaue City.
Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go witnessed the destruction of eleven (11) container vans of seized cigarettes, representing an estimated excise tax liability of PHP 240,641,547.71, exclusive of the value of the machinery used in their manufacture.
“I commend the BIR and the BOC for their continued efforts to combat illicit trade. This is not an easy task, but their sustained enforcement is making a real difference. In the months of June and July 2026, our agencies were able to apprehend around PHP 1.7 billion worth of illicit products. We will continue to strengthen these efforts and ensure that those engaged in illicit trade are held accountable,” he said.
