• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A truck driver and two helpers voluntarily surrendered a shipment of suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately P16 million to authorities in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, on April 15.
Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) City Director Police Colonel Eugene Rebadomia reported that personnel from Police Station 6 were conducting a checkpoint in Doña Juliana when a six-wheeler truck approached and the occupants turned over the cargo.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the shipment likely originated from a neighboring island and was transit-bound for the northern part of Negros Occidental.
While the individuals operating the vehicle have been identified, authorities are still determining the primary source and the intended recipients of the contraband items.*TMD
SP RESOLUTION
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved a resolution commending Police Station 4 and Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), under the leadership of PCOL Eugene Rebadomia, for its vigilance that led to the voluntary surrender of smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately P21,000,000.
The resolution was authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito and Councilor Pao Sy.
The commendation stems from a successful checkpoint operation conducted on April 14, in Purok Herbabuena, Circumferential Road, Barangay Villamonte, where a six-wheel panel van carrying suspected smuggled cigarettes was intercepted. The shipment, consisting of around 200 boxes of Tabaco cigarettes and 15 boxes of Cannon cigarettes, is now under police custody pending turnover to the Bureau of Internal Revenue for proper verification and disposition.
Distrito lauded the professionalism and alertness of the police personnel involved.
“This incident highlights the critical role of vigilance and proactive policing in protecting both public order and government revenues. The actions of Police Station 4 demonstrate that effective law enforcement can yield tangible results,” he said.
Sy also emphasized the broader importance of sustained enforcement measures.
“Police checkpoints and increased visibility are proven deterrents against smuggling and other illegal activities. We must continue and strengthen these efforts to ensure that unlawful goods do not circulate and that the government is not deprived of rightful revenues,” Sy added.
The resolution underscores that smuggling of cigarettes and other excisable goods results in significant losses in government revenues, particularly excise taxes, which are vital for funding public services and development programs.
The City Council further noted that the incident reflects the effectiveness of checkpoint operations and the importance of continued vigilance among law enforcement agencies in curbing illegal activities.
Through the resolution, the Sangguniang Panlungsod also urged the BCPO to sustain and intensify the implementation of police checkpoints and enhance police visibility across Bacolod City as a proactive strategy to deter crime and safeguard public resources.*
