By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Four persons were arrested in a checkpoint for transporting alleged fake cigarettes worth P143,000 at Barangay Buluangan, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday.
Police identified the suspects as Saidomar Sarip, 25; Norsaif Kintawan, 27; Muar Ambor, 20; and Mario Mahinay, 33, all residents of Barangay 5.
Police Major Mark Angelo Junco, city police chief, said that the suspects on board a white van driven by Sarip were flagged down at a checkpoint around 8 p.m. when they tried to cross to Negros Oriental.
Junco said that the suspects initially declared that their cargoes were fruits but when police checked, the vehicle was loaded with 11 master cases of cigarettes.
The suspects also failed to show pertinent documents to prove that their items were products certified by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), he added.
He said they were supposed to deliver the items in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
He said they were released from detention after the 12-hour reglementary detention period and will be charged for violation of Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
