BY EUNICE MEDALLA
ILOILO City – The 4th Special Operations Unit (SOU) of the Philippine National Police’s Maritime Group seized over P5 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in separate raids in Barangay Obrero, Lapuz and Barangay Lopez Jaena Sur, La Paz here on Wednesday, July 24.
Through the strength of a search warrant, authorities first arrested Donnel Jeruta, 31, in his house in Bo. Obero and confiscated several boxes of fake cigarettes, on Wednesday afternoon.
Also recovered were five firearms.
Jeruta told the police that his source of fake cigarettes was Chinese national James Chiu Chen in Barangay Lopez Jaena Sur, La Paz.
The 4th SOU also raided the 59-year-old Chen’s house on Wednesday night where they confiscated approximately P4.8 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and an airsoft gun.
Chen, in an interview, said the smuggled cigarettes were from Malaysia and were sent to him by his Muslim friend from Manila. He said he sold the cigarettes in the city and admitted that he has no business permit.
Authorities added that the suspect has been living in this city for 12 years.
Colonel Ervin Glenn Provido, chief of the Regional Maritime 6, said in a K5 News FM Iloilo interview yesterday that Jeruta and Chen will face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines).
He added that Jeruta will also be charged for violation of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act)./PN
