CIVIC watchdog CitizenWatch Philippines has urged authorities to ensure that recently seized illicit cigarettes are properly secured and disposed of in accordance with the law, warning that any premature release would undermine enforcement efforts and public trust.
CitizenWatch convenor Orlando Oxales said the group recognizes the scale of recent anti-smuggling operations in Mindanao and expressed confidence that law enforcement agencies will uphold due process.
“We trust our police, our Navy, and our enforcement institutions to safeguard seized goods and ensure that these do not return to circulation,” Oxales said, stressing that the credibility of enforcement hinges on what happens after a seizure.
In December alone, the Philippine Navy intercepted four vessels involved in illicit cigarette smuggling — M/L Adilyn, M/L ASB Express, M/B Mack Mack, and M/B Combination — in a series of maritime interdictions in Mindanao waters.
The combined haul amounted to 7,090 master cases, or approximately 70.9 million cigarette sticks. At an estimated street price of P4 per stick, the seized goods carry a market value of ₱283 million, translating to approximately ₱267 million in foregone government revenues from excise taxes and value-added tax—funds that could have supported public services, including healthcare.
All seized shipments have since been turned over to the custody of the Bureau of Customs for proper disposition.
CitizenWatch noted that due to intensified enforcement by multiple agencies, Customs authorities in Zamboanga are now holding an estimated 56,000 master cases of illicit cigarettes, representing the cumulative seizures for 2025, including the most recent interdictions.
“This volume reflects how serious and organized the smuggling problem is,” Oxales said, adding that post-seizure safeguards are just as critical as interdictions at sea.
Sources from the region have received information suggesting that certain personalities have been contacting law enforcement agencies regarding the possible release of seized shipments, including reports that instructions were issued to release seized master cases at a fixed amount of ₱10,000 per case and to limit anti-smuggling operations in Region 11 (Port of Davao).
Oxales said these reports necessitates the need to shield frontline enforcers from undue pressure and to ensure that procedures are followed strictly and transparently.
He appealed to Customs Chief Ariel F. Nepomuceno to ensure that all seized goods under Customs custody are fully protected and disposed of in accordance with the law.
“We believe Commissioner Nepomuceno’s commitment to reform, transparency, and institutional integrity is crucial at this moment,” Oxales said. “Clear leadership from the top will reassure both enforcers and the public that seized illicit goods will not find their way back into our communities.”
Oxales emphasized that the issue goes beyond enforcement statistics, noting that taxes lost to illicit trade directly deprive the public of essential services and weaken efforts to protect young people from harmful products.
“Every shipment of illicit cigarettes represents hospital beds that were never built, medicines that were never purchased, and health services that were never delivered,” he said. “Keeping these products out of circulation is also about protecting our youth from cheap, unregulated products that undermine years of public health progress.”
Safeguarding seized goods, Oxales added, ensures that enforcement efforts translate into lasting public benefit—strengthening institutions, preserving revenues, and keeping dangerous products away from Filipino families.
