Recto approves seized gasoline donation to Coast Guard

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto approved the donation of 1,251.68 liters of seized gasoline to the Philippine Coast Guard to support maritime safety and security operations.

The gasoline was confiscated by the Bureau of Customs for violating fuel marking regulations under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Fuel marking involves injecting chemical identifiers into tax-paid oil products to prevent smuggling, as mandated by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.

Section 1141 of the CMTA allows the Secretary of Finance to approve donations of seized goods to other government agencies.

The donation aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to combat smuggling and enhance national security, emphasizing the government's commitment to bolstering its defense sector.

Recto stressed that any fraudulent or illegal activity will not be tolerated, reinforcing the government's stance on strict enforcement of tax compliance.