ILLICIT. Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. shows some of the confiscated illicit vape products during a raid at the Philippine Vape Festival 2024 on Sunday (Aug. 18, 2024) in Las Piñas City. Lumagui said the BIR's "full strength" would be deployed against illegal vape products. (Photo from BIR)
MANILA – The Bureau of Internal Revenue's (BIR) Illicit Trade Task Force raided Sunday the Philippine Vape Festival 2024 in Las Piñas City and confiscated illicit vape products.
In a statement, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said surveillance of the event confirmed that there were vape products without internal revenue stamps.
“The illicit vape being displayed in this festival shows the brazen attitude of the vape industry against the proper taxation of vape products. They even organized a festival filled with illicit vape. The full strength of the BIR Illicit Trade Task Force will be deployed against this industry," Lumagui said.
About 5,385 illicit vape products have been seized.
The inventory of the illicit vape products confiscated during the festival is still ongoing but the BIR said the initial estimate of tax liabilities is at least PHP7 million.
Earlier this month, the BIR raided the Taytay Tiangge Market and confiscated Flava and other illicit vape products.
It also raided a building in Quezon City where a Flava vending machine was confiscated.
"We have given the vape industry every warning. The BIR will raid all venues with illicit vape, even on weekends or holidays. We will raid festivals. We will raid public markets," Lumagui said.
He said criminal charges for tax evasion would be filed against violators and urged the public to inform them about the illicit vape trade. (PNA)
