Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The headaches keep coming for controversial vape brand Flava, which is in hot water as far as the House Committee on Ways and Means is concerned. 

This, after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) led by Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio recently seized some P3.72 billion in smuggled electronic cigarettes in separate raids in the cities of Malabon and Parañaque. 

Electronic cigarettes marked “Flava” were found in at least one of three raids conducted, noted committee chairman Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda. 

Salceda said this "implicated anew" the vape brand in the House panel's ongoing tax evasion probe. 

“I congratulate Commissioner Rubio and his team for the big-time catches...Once again, the Flava brand of vapes, already the subject of the Committee’s investigation for P1.4 billion in evaded taxes, is once again involved,” the Bicolano said. 

A warehouse in San Dionisio, Parañaque City was found containing about 1.5 million pieces of the Flava brand e-cigarettes in assorted flavors, estimated to be worth P1.53 billion, including excise taxes. 

“The committee wants Flava Corporation shuttered. And, this probably strengthens the case against them,” Salceda said. 

The tax committee already concluded its investigation on Flava Corporation, and has submitted its draft committee report to the House leadership. 

Among other things, it recommends that the business operations of Flava Corporation be ceased and that the corporation be investigated for possible money laundering and other acts of smuggling. 

Salceda also warned online selling platforms that selling smuggled goods could also subject them to smuggling charges. 

“Lazada and Shopee, and other online selling platforms, should take appropriate action now. They carry immense risks that are not worth the legal trouble if they insist on carrying potentially smuggled goods. 

“The BOC has already found that Flava Corporation does not have the capacity to manufacture vape. They have no registered imported brands with the BIR. So, one and one together makes a strong case," he said. 

“So, fair warning to online selling platforms and distributors, as well as to logistics providers. Selling and transporting smuggled goods falls under the definition of smuggling, just as much as bringing the goods in," noted Salceda.