Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758692048803cropped-photo-collage.png.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Police on Tuesday confiscated suspected smuggled imported white onions worth P1.35 million and alleged counterfeit cigarettes valued at P600,000 in two separate operations in Quiapo, Manila. Michael Joe Delizo, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Police on Tuesday confiscated suspected smuggled white onions worth P1.35 million and alleged counterfeit cigarettes valued at P600,000 in two separate operations in Quiapo, Manila. </p><p>Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang said two trucks loaded with white onions were flagged along Carlos Palanca Street, Manila for seatbelt violation and improper plate attachment.</p><p>Upon further inspection and questioning, authorities discovered that one of the drivers had no license and was carrying spurious documents for the cargo.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/8/19/p50-million-worth-of-smuggled-onions-agri-products-from-china-seized-1446">P50 million worth of smuggled onions, agri products seized</a></div><p>Initial investigation showed that the white onions — about 1,200 sacks in total, valued at P1.35 million and bearing “China” markings — came from a storage facility in Quiapo district and were bound for Navotas and Bocaue, Bulacan.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1970709838633332786&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-09-24T04%3A42%3A24.844626%3Aa37db591-6fc3-4e8c-94d4-956a1d34effb%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=6fd4120a9e5b6ba4c78470f9c50dad272cc85755&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:506px;height:710px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1970709838633332786"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>“’Yong kanya pong mga dokumento na pinakita sa atin ay hindi po tugma do’n po sa atin pong system – ‘yong kanya pong mga ORCR. At no’ng in-inspect po ng inyong PNP-HPG…meron siyang dala-dala din na mga undocumented na mga imported onions,” Malang said.</p><p>(The documents he presented did not match our system, particularly the ORCR. When PNP-HPG inspected, he was also carrying undocumented imported onions.)</p><p>The two truck drivers are now under the custody of the PNP-HPG in Camp Crame and may face charges for violating several laws, including the Consumer Act.</p><p>“Dapat alam po nila at they must be responsible kung ano po ‘yong dala-dalahin po nila,” Malang said, adding that there are ongoing efforts to hold the “big fishes” in smuggling accountable.</p><p>(They should know and be responsible for what they are transporting.)</p><p>Law enforcers are still determining the country of origin of the onions.</p><p>One of the truck drivers denied knowledge of the cargo’s irregularity.</p><p>“Pagkaka-alam ko, kumpleto daw ‘yan sabi ng may-ari eh,” he said, noting that the owner is a Chinese. “Extra lang kasi ako diyan.”</p><p>(As far as I know, the owner said all documents were complete. I’m just a reliever driver.)</p><div> </div><div><strong>CIGARETTES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, police also arrested the driver of a van carrying boxes of suspected counterfeit cigarettes along Carlos Palanca Street, following a tip from the company.</p><p>Malang said operatives caught an ambulant vendor loading the products into the van in front of a bakery at Quinta Market.</p><p>Upon inspection, the driver failed to present documents and admitted the goods were fake. The cigarettes were set for distribution in Metro Manila.</p><p>Authorities seized eight boxes of cigarettes, estimated to be worth P600,000.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/9/20/-health-group-urges-ph-gov-t-to-reject-greenwashing-of-tobacco-industry-1059">Health group urges PH gov&#x27;t to reject &#x27;greenwashing&#x27; of tobacco industry</a></div><p>Investigation is ongoing to trace the source of the counterfeit cigarettes and to identify those behind the operation.</p><p>“Kung ito ay hindi ho dumaan sa tamang tax, kailangan mapanagot po sila. At maging patas po sa talagang nagtatrabaho at ‘yong regulated companies po natin na talagang lumalaban po ng patas sa ating batas,” Malang said.</p><p>(If these did not go through proper taxation, they must be held accountable. It should also be fair to the legitimate workers and our regulated companies that are competing lawfully.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zfAcydPIC_c?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NIaCwYakuwc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Police on Tuesday confiscated suspected smuggled imported white onions worth P1.35 million and alleged counterfeit cigarettes valued at P600,000 in two separate operations in Quiapo, Manila.</p>

Police on Tuesday confiscated suspected smuggled imported white onions worth P1.35 million and alleged counterfeit cigarettes valued at P600,000 in two separate operations in Quiapo, Manila.

Smuggled onions, fake cigarettes intercepted in Quiapo busts

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Smuggled onions, fake cigarettes intercepted in Quiapo busts

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 24, 2025 01:36 PM PHT

Read More:

Smuggling

Cigarettes

White onions

PNP-HPG

Counterfeit

Manila

Quiapo

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