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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PNP shifts probe to politician-backers of Pampanga illegal cigarette hub

PNP shifts probe to politician-backers of Pampanga illegal cigarette hub

Published Feb 6, 2026 03:49 pm
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla leads the inspection of an illegal cigarette factory in Mexico, Pampanga on Feb. 5, 2026. (Photo: PNP)
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla leads the inspection of an illegal cigarette factory in Mexico, Pampanga on Feb. 5, 2026. (Photo: PNP)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has focused its investigation into the illegal cigarette factory uncovered in Mexico, Pampanga toward alleged high-profile financiers, including two Northern Luzon politicians tagged as possible masterminds.
Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the PNP, said investigators are now tracing the financial trail behind the operation of the illegal cigarette manufactory at a warehouse in Barangay Panipuan that was raided by the authorities last Jan. 28.
The PNP said the Pampanga factory was producing cigarettes worth P150 million a day. Investigators estimated it had already produced and distributed P4.5 billion worth of cigarettes since it began operating on Jan. 1 this year.
The focus of the probe has moved beyond the physical factory site and toward those believed to be funding and protecting the operation, Nartatez said.
“There will always be a time of reckoning and it has started for all those involved in this smuggling activity,” he said.
“The people behind all of these are enriching themselves by robbing us with billions of money intended for government services to the people, particularly the poor,” he added.
The illegal factory was inspected on Feb. 5 by the PNP, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Bureau of Customs. During the inspection, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said two politicians from Northern Luzon are being looked at as masterminds behind the hub.
Remulla earlier said the government lost P30 billion in tax revenues to cigarette smuggling in 2024.
Meanwhile, Nartatez said the PNP will not limit accountability to low-level operators and workers. He said those who planned, financed, and benefited from the operation will also be pursued.
“The Philippine National Police will not hesitate to pursue the case, subject of course to evidence and due process. Walang untouchable sa batas (Nobody is untouchable under the law),” he said.
At the same time, the PNP has intensified intelligence operations nationwide to locate and shut down more illegal cigarette factories.
According to Remulla, there could be at least 10 similar factories operating across the country.
Nartatez ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and police regional offices (PROs) to treat these operations as high-impact economic crimes.
“We cannot allow these people to operate because our government is losing billions of pesos that are supposed to be used for social services. We have intensified our intelligence-gathering to track down these illegal factories and arrest those behind their operation,” Nartatez said.
The PNP said it is strengthening coordination with the DILG, local government units, the Bureau of Customs, and other agencies to detect suspicious operations early and prevent large-scale smuggling syndicates from resurfacing.

Related Tags

PNP smuggling cigarette Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. Pampanga politicians backers
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