DILG: 3 more illegal cigarette factories in Pampanga shut down

Authorities on Monday inspected three illegal cigarette factories in Pampanga that have been shut down.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the three manufacturing warehouses were closed following the operation at another site in the town of Mexico last January.

“Dito po sa San Fernando, Pampanga, nag-operate po ito hanggang September 2023 na meat processing plant. Ayun ang permit niya. Pero tumigil po siya ng 2023 at wala na po siyang permit, Remulla said.

(Here in San Fernando, Pampanga, this meat processing plant operated until September 2023. That was its permit. But it stopped in 2023 and no longer has a permit.)

“All indications show na nag-umpisa siya ng operations itong 2026 nitong January. At noong January 29, noong nakuha namin yung unang factory sa Mexico, Pampanga, tumigil na ang operations dito,” he added.

(All indications show that it started operations in January 2026. And on January 29, when we got the first factory in Mexico, Pampanga, operations here stopped.)

Remulla said that a total of four illegal cigarette factories in Mexico, San Fernando, and San Simon closed on January 29, which indicates the possibility that they are under the control of the same syndicate.

According to authorities, the illegal cigarette manufacturers were earning around P160 million per day.

Aside from the DILG, officials from the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Department of Agriculture were present during the inspection.

PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said more raids on unauthorized factories will continue as the PNP strengthens its coordination with other concerned agencies in the fight against illegal cigarette trade.

He said he will not allow the scheme to become the “new POGO” as described by Marikina Representative Romero Quimbo.

“We have a clear guidance to stop all the operations relating to illegal cigarette trade, from smuggling to illegal manufacture in the country. And your PNP is doing well in the conduct of operations to stop this illegal activity,” Nartatez said.

“Right now, our efforts to confiscate as many illegal cigarettes and shut down as many warehouses are complemented with gathering pieces of evidence to pin down the financiers and all the masterminds behind this illegal activity,” he added. —Joviland Rita/RF, GMA Integrated News