Pangasinan court acquits 102 cigarette manufacturing case suspects

A regional trial court in Pangasinan has acquitted 102 individuals charged with illegal possession of cigarette manufacturing materials and counterfeit tax stamps due to insufficient evidence and procedural issues.

The Rosales Regional Trial Court Branch 53 granted the demurrer to evidence filed by the accused on June 25, effectively dismissing all charges against them in a 29-page joint resolution.

The court found that the prosecution lacked a valid search warrant and proper chain of custody for the seized items, leading to an acquittal.

The case originated from a raid conducted in November 2023 at a warehouse where various contraband materials were allegedly discovered.

Defense attorney Renfred Tan argued that his clients, recruited with promises of legitimate employment, were actually victims of human trafficking and had been unknowingly involved in illicit activities.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Balungao, Pangasinan has been ordered to release the accused following their acquittal.