DILG probes politician linked to smuggled cigarettes

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government is looking into allegations that a politician from Luzon is connected with the smuggled cigarettes whose impending destruction reportedly triggered a confrontation between personnel of the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) agents.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said they are also investigating if the HPG operatives went to a facility in Bulacan on the politician’s orders.

In a Facebook post, journalist Ramon Tulfo said the politician instructed the HPG-National Capital Region (NCR) to retrieve the cigarettes, which were supposed to be destroyed by BOC personnel at an incineration plant.

HPG-NCR chief Col. Joey Tomas Caise and 12 subordinates have been relieved from their posts.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also ordered a probe to determine if there were lapses in the police operation as the HPG conducted an operation outside of its jurisdiction.

PNP spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co said the relief of the HPG officers aims to give way to an impartial probe.

Raps vs HPG men readied

BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said he would file within the week an administrative complaint against the HPG personnel with the National Police Commission.

Nepomuceno said the HPG officers disrespected the Customs agents when police interfered with the destruction of seized smuggled cigarettes.

“We are preparing the complaints,” Nepomuceno said. “What the HPG did was wrong. My men were in uniform. They were not selling cigarettes in the streets. They were guarding the cigarettes being destroyed.”

He said the HPG personnel allegedly frisked the Customs personnel and even ordered them to raise their hands.

Reports said the HPG was conducting an entrapment operation against two alleged BOC personnel with aliases Alex and Joy, who were allegedly reselling the confiscated cigarettes.

Nepomuceno said the HPG personnel should have followed the standard protocols during police operations. —Evelyn Macairan