CEBU, Philippines - Close to 20,000 butane canisters and refilling machines were seized by the joint operatives of Minglanilla Police Station, Department of Energy, and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Barangays Tulay and Vito Friday evening.
Minglanilla Police Station chief Superintendent Dexter Calacar said they received information from a concern citizen about an illegal retailing of butane in Barangay Tulay. Acting on the information, the operatives arrested Roger Amadeo, 47, after he was caught illegally selling butane canisters.
Recovered from his store were 2,950 of LPG-filled canisters and 1,140 empty canisters. Amadeo admitted during interrogation that he got his supply from a warehouse in Sitio Camarin, Barangay Vito.
A follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of Razel Gaballo, 21, resident of Moalboal town, Cebu and Logie Gabuya, 36, resident of Purok Lacson, Calinan, Davao City. The warehouse was owned by a certain Maria Amor Mahinay.
Operatives recovered 12,000 empty butane canisters, 200 empty LPG tanks, three refilling machines, five compressors, and three logbooks. Calacar said Gaballo and Gabuya were only caretakers of the warehouse.
Calacar said another warehouse was located around 100 meters away from the first warehouse they raided.
“Pag-abot namo sa ikaduha nga warehouse wala nay tawo ug pawong na ang suga,” Calacar said.
They recovered another four compressors, 11 LPG tanks (50 kg), 157 LPG tanks (22kg); 33 tanks (36kg); one fire extinguisher; 1,330 butane canisters; 2,068 empty canisters; and two multicabs used for transportation. A total of 15,208 empty canisters and 4,280 LPG-filled canisters were seized during the operations.
The suspects are now detained at the station while charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1865 and the Provincial Ordinance 1700-2016 are being prepared against them. —/FPL (FREEMAN)