A surprise joint raid before dawn in Lubao, Pampanga on Thursday, June 12, 2025, led to the arrest of 16 people for hoarding and selling illegal petroleum products allegedly, after a strong odor alerted nearby residents.
Police and fire authorities acted on complaints about a foul smell coming from a remote site in Barangay Prado Siongco.
At around 2:55 a.m., the team caught several suspects in the act of transferring and storing what is believed to be stolen fuel.
They seized 32 large 1,000-liter containers filled with petroleum, two metal tanks, two pumps, a tanker truck, sales receipts, and P279,400 in cash earned allegedly from illegal transactions.
“Years ago, bago ‘yung bypass, diyan tumitigil ‘yung mga trucks. Naririnig ko, doon lang sila nagpapark, doon ‘yung patulo. Ito, iba na din. Liblib, dulo, hindi obvious. Pa-ulty dito halos, bukid na siya, end na siya dito. Hindi mo din iisipin na may papasok na truck,” Lubao Mayor Esmie Pineda said.
Authorities suspect that this is part of a long-running fuel pilferage scheme, also known as “paihi,” where truck drivers secretly siphon fuel and sell it illegally.
“‘Yan nga po ang modus operandi ng mga tanker. Mga driver, may dinadaanan sila — siguro ‘yung parang stopover nila — nagdi-discharge sila ng mga laman nilang gasolina. At ‘yun nga, pinapalitan nila iyon. Nagkakaroon ng alteration. ‘Yung mga dinidiskarga nila, ‘yun ‘yung nilalagay nila sa mga maliliit na lalagyan at ibinebenta nila,” PBGEN Jean Fajardo, PRO-3 Regional Director, said.
One of the suspects arrested led police to a second site in Barangay Lourdes. There, they caught another group offloading fuel from a truck.
Police recovered 15 more full containers, empty drums, a dump truck, and two more vehicles suspected to be used for transporting the stolen fuel.
All suspects are now detained at the Lubao Municipal Police Station. They face charges under Batas Pambansa Blg. 33, which prohibits the illegal trading and hoarding of petroleum products.
Authorities are continuing their investigation.
