NBI steps up drive versus illegal LPG operators

The illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder refilling business reportedly continues to proliferate despite a government crackdown which has led to the filing of several cases against businessmen suspected of engaging in this perilous trade.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it is set to resume operations against establishments suspected of illegal LPG refilling following reports that the trade remains unabated in various parts of the country. the NBI warned that it is "dead serious in this campaign and that all raided parties will be charged in court."

Earlier, Sen. Teresita Aquino-Oreta urged the NBI to act against the illegal trade amid reports that some two to three million defective LPG cylinders are in circulation after having been refilled by the unauthorized establishments. The Bureau of Fire Protection has traced the cause of over 500 fire incidents all over the country to these defective cylinders.

NBI operations last year against illegal LPG refillers resulted in the filing of charges against several establishments suspected of engaging in the trade. Among these are Omni Gas Corp. and Republic Gas Corp. (Regasco) based in Pasig City and Malabon, respectively. Also charged were Northland Gas Corp. and Romars International Gases Corp. (Marsflame) and Pryce Gas based in Laoag City and Bicol.

The Department of Energy (DoE) had also earlier filed charges against several firms suspected of illegal refilling. Among these are Capitol Allied Trading, Excel Gas Corp., Lukban Gas, Inc., Eslee Trading and J. Gutierrez Gas Center.

The NBI warned that the operation of illegal refillers pose serious risks to the safety of both households and commercial establishments. Illegally-refilled LPG cyclinders, the NBI said, do not have the safety features of the standard authorized products.

NBI officials had expressed concern that the absence of the legally mandated safety measures and quality standards in the illegally-refilled cylinders "significantly raised the possibility of domestic accidents.

They noted that the suspects "usually do not repair or rehabilitate the cylinders which they illegally refill."

The NBI is also investigating reports that illegally-refilled LPG cylinders tend to be underweight by 10 to 30 percent.

The NBI said it is expanding it surveillance operations against suspected illegal refillers in a bid to "strike at the very root of this racket." It also appealed to consumers to refrain from patronizing outlets of illegally refilled LPG cylinders in order to deprive these outlets of a ready market.

The operations this year will definitely be more intense than last year’s operations, the NBI said.