By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is stepping up monitoring and enforcement against fuel pilferage and illegal fuel storage and distribution hubs.
“These illegal activities pose real dangers to our communities,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.
“We want to send a strong message that those who would dare to ignore our warning on this matter will be dealt with the full force of the law.”
The move follows the discovery of a diesel stockpile without permits inside a residential compound in Quezon City.
Nartatez ordered the National Capital Region Police Office to conduct a thorough investigation and directed all regional offices to intensify monitoring and intelligence-gathering in their areas.
National Support Units, including the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, were also tasked to assist in the campaign.
During the Quezon City operation, police found drums of diesel stored inside a residential compound. Neighbors had reported unusual activity, including the transfer of unmarked fuel from tankers into smaller containers.
Investigators are determining how long the stockpile had been operating and whether similar depots exist in other communities.
“We are already coordinating with the DOE (Department of Energy) to ensure a solid case build-up against those involved,” Nartatez said. (PNA)
