THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has placed its enforcement units on heightened alert to intercept illicit vape and tobacco products as consumer spending surges during the “Ber” months leading into the Christmas holiday season.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza ordered regional and enforcement offices to step up intelligence monitoring across suspected manufacturing sites, storage facilities, distribution networks, and retail establishments.
The mandate aims to prevent un-taxed and counterfeit goods from entering the consumer market during peak holiday demand.
“We are receiving intelligence and market information on the increased risk of illicit vape and tobacco products entering the market as holiday demand picks up,” Mendoza stated. “Our enforcement teams are already on high alert. There will be no holiday for enforcement against illicit vape and tobacco.”
The announcement follows the BIR’s presentation of its month-long nationwide campaign results during the National Enforcement Command Center Reporting in Makati City.
The multi-sectoral operations yielded significant seizures, tax assessments, and closures across several industries.
In Manila, revenue officials completed the destruction of 240,550 illicit vape products with an estimated tax liability of ₱1.54 billion to ensure the goods could not be re-circulated.
Enforcement against illegal gambling venues also uncovered 297 unregistered cockpit arena machines lacking official Permits to Use across Metro Manila and South Luzon.
Additionally, nationwide fuel-marking inspections tested 421 stations, leading to the temporary shutdown of 164 non-compliant facilities and generating ₱20.04 million in collections.
A separate post-evaluation of 7,685 commercial establishments revealed 842 entities with Point-of-Sale system violations, resulting in 385 sealed machines and ₱25.11 million in assessed penalties.
Mendoza stressed that firm, fair, and professional enforcement serves to protect the national tax base and deter tax evasion, assuring compliant taxpayers that law enforcement remains active.
The bureau urged legitimate industry operators and the public to report any information regarding illicit manufacturing or sales.
