The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it would conduct a parallel investigation and impose sanctions if warranted after six of its personnel were arrested by their brothers-in-uniform from the Philippine National Police (PNP) during an anti-smuggling operation in Naawan, Misamis Oriental on Friday, April 17.

The arrests, carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP), stemmed from a raid that also netted more than P3 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes and a civilian cohort.

“The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has initiated a parallel investigation into the arrest of six of its personnel during a joint anti-cigarette smuggling operation conducted in Naawan, Misamis Oriental,” PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab.

Six PCG personnel and their civilian driver were arrested by the police after they allegedly yielded P3.075 million worth of alleged smuggled cigarettes during a raid in Barangay Poblacion.

PNP Chief, Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said investigators were looking into a wider smuggling network in Northern Mindanao, noting the suspects came from different Coast Guard stations, suggesting possible “connivance for both smuggling and distribution.”

Police said the group was caught around 1:30 a.m. unloading boxes from a fishing vessel and transferring them to a van inside a Coast Guard sub-station. Authorities seized 205 master cases of Cannon Menthol 100 cigarettes.

The operation was based on intelligence reports and carried out by the PNP Maritime Unit with support from local police and intelligence units.

Nartatez criticized the involvement of the PCG officers, saying it was “highly unfair” to other personnel risking their lives against smugglers, and expressed alarm that the contraband was found inside a PCG facility.

In response, Cayabyab said the PCG has fully cooperated with the PNP to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.

“The Command maintains a zero-tolerance policy against any form of illegal activity. Personnel found to have violated the law shall face administrative and criminal proceedings. If proven guilty, sanctions will be given, including dismissal from the Coast Guard service with forfeiture of benefits,” Cayabyab PCG said.

She emphasized that the incident “does not reflect the standards upheld by the organization, which remains committed to integrity and accountability in public service.”

“The PCG assures the public that it will take decisive action to uphold institutional integrity and maintain public trust,” Cayabyab noted.

an incident now tagged by authorities as a “talo-talo” situation after uniformed personnel themselves were caught in the crackdown.

The operation forms part of the government’s broader campaign against cigarette smuggling, a persistent problem in coastal and port areas where enforcement agencies such as the PCG often play a frontline role alongside the PNP and customs authorities.

As scrutiny turned to the Coast Guard’s ranks, Cayabyab underscored the agency’s internal accountability measures.

“The Command maintains a zero-tolerance policy against any form of illegal activity. Personnel found to have violated the law shall face administrative and criminal proceedings. If proven guilty, sanctions will be given, including dismissal from the Coast Guard service with forfeiture of benefits,” she said.

She added that the Coast Guard is coordinating closely with the police to ensure the investigation proceeds without bias.

“According to PCG Spokesperson, Commodore Noemie Cayabyab PCG, the PCG is fully cooperating with the Philippine National Police to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.”

The case has raised concerns over discipline within enforcement units tasked to curb smuggling, a long-running issue that has cost the government billions in lost revenues and has prompted tighter inter-agency operations in recent years.

Cayabyab said the agency would move to protect its credibility.

“She emphasized that the incident does not reflect the standards upheld by the organization, which remains committed to integrity and accountability in public service.”

“The PCG assures the public that it will take decisive action to uphold institutional integrity and maintain public trust.”

Authorities have yet to detail the specific participation of the arrested personnel in the alleged smuggling activity. The parallel investigations by the PNP and PCG are ongoing.