BOC seizes PHP3.24M worth of fuel in Bicol

On Tuesday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported the confiscation of over PHP3.24 million worth of gasoline, diesel, and a fuel truck involved in illegal fuel sales during two operations in the Bicol region.

Authorities seized 30,891.5 liters of unmarked fuel valued at PHP1.745 million from two gas stations in Camarines Sur on January 23 and 29, along with a fuel truck worth PHP1.5 million on January 29.

BOC District Collector Guillermo Pedro Francia IV emphasized that these seizures support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s call for stricter enforcement and fiscal responsibility, reflecting the agency's commitment to enforcing regulations within the fuel sector and combating illegal activities such as tax evasion.

The operations in Bicol demonstrate the bureau's dedication to upholding regulatory standards under the Fuel Marking Program (FMP) and random field tests are conducted to verify compliance.

Francia urged all fuel station operators to comply with these standards, noting that non-compliance can lead to severe consequences. Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio stressed that such operations reinforce the agency's commitment to protecting government revenues and maintaining fair competition for law-abiding businesses.