By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has directed all police chiefs to strengthen coordination with local government units to identify suspicious warehouses and sites that may be used for the storage or manufacturing of illegal cigarettes.
In a statement on Thursday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. noted that vital information against criminal elements and activities usually comes from local residents and officials, especially at the barangay level.
He cited the case of two recent successful operations that netted millions of pesos worth of smuggled cigarettes — one in San Simon, Pampanga, which was provided by a netizen, and another in Maguindanao del Norte that started as a tip-off.
“Police and community relationships that are built on trust are an essential ingredient in effective law enforcement and efficient implementation of peace and order measures,” Nartatez said.
“We in the PNP must continue to enhance this in order to sustain what we have been gaining in terms of winning the hearts and minds of the Filipino people we vowed to protect and serve.”
Nartatez noted that public support and information sharing often result from people seeing the dedication of the police.
The PNP has been on the frontline in the operations against cigarette smuggling, confiscating billions of pesos worth of illegal cigarettes in various raids that include warehouses.
Nartatez directed police chiefs to coordinate with local government units regarding inspections of suspicious warehouses and similar properties, as part of the intensified campaign against cigarette smuggling and illegal manufacturing.
He emphasized that all police actions must strictly follow operational procedures — not only to avoid legal issues but also to set a strong example in upholding the rule of law within the community. (PNA)
