'Maling diskarte sa buhay': CIDG arrests 2 people for fuel pilferage, P6.6 M petroleum product seized
CIDG operatives inspect the seized tanker containing P6.6 million worth of petroleum product during an anti-fuel pilferage operation in Agusan del Norte. (photo: CIDG)
Pinoys will never run out of ways to earn a living and amid the high cost of petroleum products, engaging in a trade war with gas stations promises hefty profit.
And this is the part when the intervention of the Philippine National Police (PNP) comes into play as the modus involves fuel pilferage, an illegal transfer of fuel from tanker trucks into barrels and small containers for the purpose of trading, or locally referred to as “paihi”.
On Friday, operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested two people and seized around P6.6 million worth of fuel products during an operation in Barangay Santa Ana, Tubay, Agusan del Norte.
CIDG director Robert AA Morico II said the suspects were a truck and driver and his helper and were caught while engaged in transferring of petroleum products from their tanker to barrels.
Based on the investigation, Morico said the tanker came from Cagayan De Oro City and stopped along the road in Tubay town of Agusan del Norte where the fuel pilferage allegedly occurred.
He said such a modus is illegal under Batas Pambansa 33 which states that it is illegal to sell or distribute petroleum products for profit without the necessary license or authority, and the Presidential Decree 1865 which was enacted to address emerging unfair trade practices and ensure energy conservation.
“This operation was aimed at combating economic sabotage and securing national revenue,” said Morico.
Earlier, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. ordered all police units to intensify the campaign against petroleum-related illegal activities amid the Middle East tensions that affected the oil supply and pricing.
These include hoarding, price manipulation and fuel pilferage.