Bicol gas stations found selling smuggled fuel

THE Port of Legazpi of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced it padlocked three gasoline stations in Camarines Sur, Bicol Region, after being found selling oil products that evaded the government’s ‘fuel marking program’ (FMP).

In a statement last March 29, Port of Legazpi District Collector Guillermo Pedro Francia IV, said the illicit products were discovered during a random field testing conducted by the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS/Customs Police) with the assistance from the SGS Philippines, the government’s partner in the conduct of fuel marking.

On the other hand, the ESS, the operational arm of the Enforcement Group under Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval, is the designated BOC unit in charge of fuel marking.

Francia said test conducted resulted to the discovery of some 39,146 liters of “non-compliant” fuels valued at P2.6 million.

“These findings highlight the persistent challenges we face in enforcing fuel regulations. It is evident that some operators continue to defy compliance measures,” Francia noted.

He added he has already issued an ‘WSD’ (warrant of seizure and detention) against the oil products resulting the gas stations’ closure whose identities were not disclosed by the BOC.