TACLOBAN CITY- A leading cigarette manufacturer in the country has found fake cigarettes bearing their company brands to have been sold in this city.
A team from the Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Inc. (PMFTC Inc.) reported the presence of counterfeits in a number of retail stores in this city after surprise visits by the PMFTC team.
The stores were selling fake cigarettes carrying the brands of Marlboro, Fortune and Jackpot.
PMFTC Inc. is the manufacturer of Marlboro, Fortune and Jackpot and other cigarettes brands.
Philip Morris Philippines had been in the country since 1955 when it entered into a licensing agreement with La Suerte Cigar and Cigarette factory to manufacture and sell Marlboro.
Eventually, the company handled all sales and marketing aspects related to the Marlboro and Philip Morris brands in 1995.
In 2010, Philip Morris Philippines and Fortune Tobacco Corporation entered into an agreement to combine their business operations in a new company, PMFTC Inc.
The company has two manufacturing plants – in Tanauan, Batangas and Marikina.
PMFTC has different facilities in the country and 42 sales offices. It has a stemmery in Ilocos, an international warehouse hub in Subic Bay Freeport Zone and a fresh leaf buying and curing facility in Claveria, Misamis Oriental.
It has almost 5,000 direct contracted farmers planting tobacco in Northern Luzon, Mindoro and Misamis Oriental and employs about 5,000 personnel.
The members of the PMFTC team conducted surprise purchases of the cigarettes in some stores in this city to find out if the cigarettes carrying the brand names manufactured by their company are genuine.
“To our surprise, fake cigarettes carrying the brands of Marlboro, Fortune and Jackpot are sold in some stores in this city,” they said.
The PMFTC source informed reporters that the stores in this city found to be selling fake Marlboro, Fortune and Jackpot brand cigarettes were located in front of the Tacloban Public Market.
The source said the concerned stores were served warning letters by PMFTC to cease and desist from selling of those fake cigarettes with brand names of Marlboro, Fortune, and Jackpot indicating unlawful distribution and sale of counterfeit cigarette brands.
It was learned that other PMFTC teams are also checking other stores or outlets not only in this city but also in other areas in Eastern Visayas and all other provinces in the country including Metro Manila for fake cigarettes carrying their company brands.
PMFTC has alerted local authorities to the growing problem of counterfeit cigarettes which are of very poor quality and deny the government Sin Tax revenues.
It was also learned that manufacturing and selling of counterfeit of fake products, like the fake cigarettes carrying the brands of Marlboro, Fortune, and Jackpot sold in this city are punishable by law.
Such acts are in violations of Republic Act 8293, otherwise known as the “Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines”, a criminal penalty of imprisonment from 2 to 5 years and a fine ranging from P50,000 to P200,000 may be imposed upon anyone caught committing the aforesaid unlawful act, in addition to any civil and administrative sanctions imposed by law for the same offense.
Furthermore, the traders are warned because fake PMFTC products bear fake BIR excise tax stamps, sellers also commit tax offenses punishable under the National Internal Revenue Code.
The Leyte Samar Daily Express learned that PMFTC had been working closely with law enforcement in pursuing traders and store owners who are involved with the illegal sale of fake items.

TACLOBAN CITY-The revelations made by beleaguered Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., contained in an affidavit he signed, was described by police officials as “gold” and “substantive” which could result to possible arrests and charges filed against those personalities mentioned by the town official.
On Wednesday (August 24) afternoon, Espinosa, accompanied by Police Regional Director, Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, Leyte provincial director, S/Supt.Franco Simborio and Albuera police chief, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, went to the Leyte prosecutor’s office to submit his affidavit narrating his involvement in the illegal drug trade and those he dealt with.
“We can use the revelations. Its gold,” Espenido said, describing the value and importance of the affidavit signed by Espinosa and subscribed by Prosecutor Arlene Cordovez.
The affidavit submitted by Espinosa was so voluminous that it took more than three hours just to prepare and signed by the embattled mayor.
The entire process was held in the morning of that day at the provincial police headquarters in San Jose district, this city, before they proceeded to the provincial prosecutor’s office at around 4 pm.
Espinosa arrived at the provincial prosecutor’s office with his face covered “malong” guarded closely by police escorts.
Beltejar said that the affidavit executed by Espinosa was substantial that could possibly result to the filing of charges and arrest those named by the mayor.
The police regional director said that in his affidavit, Espinosa mentioned names ranging from police and politicians that served as his and son Kerwin protectors for them to continue their illegal drug activity.
He, however, declined to identify the names mentioned by Espinosa except to say that there were police officials as high as a general who were not mentioned before that the town mayor mentioned in his affidavit.
He also confirmed that there were “new names” that were mentioned by Espinosa in his affidavit.
“But for tactical and security reasons, please, di ko muna sasabihin. Pero may mga bago,”Beltejar said.
Asked if the move of Espinosa could qualify him to become a possible state witness, Beltejar said it’s up to the Department of Justice to decide.
Beltejar added that the affidavit executed by Espinosa could be used as basis in launching police operations and eventually, in filing charges against them.
“With this, we can strengthen in the filing of cases and launching of police operations against these connections of Kerwin,” the police official said.
“This will substantiate doon sa mga lead diagrams sa mga drug syndicates operating sa area natin at neighboring regions like Region 7. Mapi-pinpoint natin ang ibang galamay, ibat-ibang members’ ang drug syndicates,” Beltejar added, referring to the value of the Espinosa affidavit.
According to Beltejar, Espinosa was not coerced in signing the affidavit saying it was he who made the move in exchange of police protection. “Wala din itong kapalit,” he said.
Espinosa, he said, is under threat by “external” forces whom Beltejar declined to mention reason why he decided to ask to surrender and seek police protection.
“Takot na takot siya. Maraming threats na natatanggap niya at nararamdaman niya na delikado siya,” the police regional director said.
However, the request of protective police security sought by the embattled mayor goes with it certain condition which does not involve dropping of charges filed against him.
The conditions set by the police include that he would stay and hold office at the Albuera police station and that he if so decides to go out, he could not be given police escorts.
Otherwise, they will be violating the pronouncements of President Duterte not to give police escort to those so-called narco politicians, Beltejar said.
Espenido said that he is willing to provide protection to the embattled mayor.
“Kaibigan natin siya ngayon. Kasama na natin siya ngayon.So sayang kung hindi natin siya maproteksiyunan kasi yung kalaban niya yung mnga kasamahaan nila,” the Albuera police chief said.
Cordovez, for her part, confirmed that whatever Espinosa narrated in his affidavit would not affect the string of cases filed against him.
Espinosa was charged for illegal possession of illegal drugs, possession of firearms and explosives before the provincial prosecutor’s office.
“Our job was just to subscribe his affidavit and the cases filed against him will still continue,” Cordovez said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

 “We stand up to affirm and commit ourselves and to do our own share in this fight against illegal drugs proliferating in our beloved province.”

CATARMAN, Northern Samar- Officials of this province are serious in solving the proliferation of illegals.
Thus said Governor Jose Ong, who led the one-day anti-drug summit held on Thursday (August 25) at the gymnasium of the University of Eastern Philippines.
According to the governor, the holding of the anti-drug summit was a strong indication that they are with one on the campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte to stamp out the illegal drugs activity in the country.
“We are serious on this campaign to end the proliferation of illegal drugs in our province. We are with the President on this crusade and we should give him credit for leading the fight. Every sector of our society is feeling this menace,” the governor said.
“We’re not truly aware how serious the problem on illegal drugs until Pres. Duterte made this as part of his administration campaign,” he added.

Gov. Ong pointed out that the summit was held for the purpose addressed comprehensively by all sectors in the province.

“The fight against illegal drugs cannot be done overnight with me alone. There is need for a multi-pronged approach and broadest multi-sectoral unity as drug problems has social and economic dimensions,” he said.

He added: “On this monumentally historic day onward, we stand up to affirm and commit ourselves and to do our own share in this fight against illegal drugs proliferating in our beloved province.”
The summit was attended by provincial officials, mayors, police officers and representatives coming from various sectors, to include the students.
They all sign a pledge of commitment to show that they are serious on this campaign.
Rep. Edgar Ong, who also attended the gathering, said that the Thursday summit could just be the start of their campaign to make Northern Samar free from proliferation of illegal drugs.
“This could just be the beginning for Northern Samar to become an (illegal) drug-free province. We are thinking of having another similar summit, perhaps in the next four months as a follow up,” the neophyte solon said.
Gov. Ong has admitted that just like in other parts of the country, illegal drugs have found their way to almost all sectors across the province.
Thus, with the help not only from the police but every member of the community, they hope to end the menace.
The police, under its “Oplan: Tokhang”, as of the latest, 1,195 individuals have voluntarily surrendered.
Of this number, 852 of them were drug users while 343 were classified as pushers.
(RYAN ARCENAS/LITO A. BAGUNAS)

TACLOBAN CITY-Another drug personality was arrested by the elements of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office VIII (PDEA RO 8) during the conduct of buy-bust operation on August 23, 2016 at around 08:50 PM.
In a report submitted to PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña, elements of PDEA Regional Office 8 under Director Edgar T. Jubay, conducted a buy-bust operation at Brgy. 96 Calanipawan, Tacloban City which resulted to the arrest of Joel Blanco, 32 years old, a laborer, and resident of said village.
Purchased and seized from the suspect were five pieces of heat-sealed sachet of suspected shabu weighing around 0.31 gram, two pieces P500 bills as marked money, and various drug paraphernalia.
The suspect was charged for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs), Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), and Section 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165. Blanco is now temporarily detained at PDEA Detention Facility. (PR)