SILG Remulla: 2 politicians linked to illegal tobaccos reached out to me

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday said two politicians in Central Luzon, who are linked to illegal tobacco production, have attempted to reach out to him.

“Nag-reach out na. Alam na agad nila. Wala pa akong sinasabi alam na agad nila kung sino sila. Through their friends, lumapit na naman sa akin. Kakausapin daw ako pero ayaw ko pa kausapin,” Remulla said at a press conference.

(They've reached out. I haven't revealed their names yet but they already know who they are. Through their friends, they've approached me again. They said they want to talk to me but I don't want to talk to them yet.)

Authorities are now finalizing the money trail and link chart in connection with illegal tobacco operations in Central Luzon, where large-scale illegal cigarette production activities have been under probe.

“Alam ninyo naman ang investigative work. You fill in the blanks. Titignan mo muna ang Point A and Point B. Yung filling in the blanks ang mahirap dito. How to provide the exact details para accountable sila sa batas,” Remulla said. 

(You know the investigative work. You fill in the blanks. You have to look at Point A and Point B. The filling in the blanks is the hard part here. How to provide the exact details so they can be accountable to the law.)

Since last week, Remulla said authorities from different agencies have launched operations against illegal tobacco activities in Pampanga, Cavite, Quezon City, Makati, Batangas, and Laguna.

They conducted 61 simultaneous operations and seized around 45,000 packs of illegal cigarettes, with an estimated tax liability and penalties reaching about P40 million. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News