THE Calabarzon (Region 4A) office of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a candidate for councilor in the May 12 elections and 3 of his accomplices for selling smuggled cigarettes in the province of Batangas.
Atty. Olivo Ramos, NBI regional chief, in his report to NBI director, Judge Jaime Santiago, said the Batangas District Office (BatDO) successfully conducted the entrapment operation last February 4, in the town of Rosario, after validating information that some unscrupulous persons are engaged in the trading of smuggled cigarettes in the province.
With the assistance from their ‘assets,’ BatDO Head Agent Alvin Rebadulla, immediately organized his men, headed by Special Agent (SA) Edgardo Baldemos, to arrange from the suspects the delivery of the illicit cigarettes consisting of 45 master cases equivalent to 22,500 packs in exchange for P900,000.00.
Special Investigator (SI) Denver Louie Cabaluna, agent-on-case, identified the suspects as Rollie Panganiban delos Reyes, of Sitio Nagkulayen, Bgy. Pag-asa, Taysan, who is reportedly running for a seat in Taysan’s municipal council.
Also arrested were Leody Untalan Buisan from Sitio Bungad, Bgy. Tilambo, Taysan; John Joven Dapoc Almeron of Sitio Niyugan, Bgy. Sapangan, San Juan, and Jeffrey Mendoza Sulit from Sitio Lukeya, Bgy. Hugom, San Juan.
Early morning of February 4, the suspects were arrested by the NBI team after showing up at their agreed meeting place in Bgy. Namuko, Rosario, with their illegal merchandize on board a white utility van.
A case for violation of RA 12022 or the ‘Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2024 is to be filed against the suspects, Ramos said.
To recall, this would be the NBI’s second successful entrapment operation in Batangas in less than a month involving the illegal trading of smuggled cigarettes.
Last January 23, two suspects were arrested in Sto. Tomas City, for transacting with NBI undercover operatives for the selling of smuggled cigarettes worth P1.2 million (see also, Pinoy Exposé, January 25, 2025).