BIR ready to enforce antismuggling law

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Monday said that it would mobilize all necessary personnel to enforce the new law designed to combat extensive smuggling, cartel operations, profiteering and hoarding of agricultural products in the country.

“The BIR will deploy all revenuers needed to fully enforce the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. The BIR supports the stance of the national government in protecting the agriculture sector,” BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a statement.

Last week, President Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which classifies the smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and cartel operation involving agricultural and fishery goods as economic sabotage, a nonbailable offense punishable by life imprisonment.

With the new law in place, the BIR will pay particular attention to the smuggling of tobacco. Lumagui said smuggled tobacco is defined as any tobacco product that does not meet the regulations and standards set by the BIR. This applies to both unmanufactured tobacco, such as raw leaves, and manufactured tobacco products. The manufactured category includes items like cigarettes, cigars, heated tobacco products, vapes, and any other tobacco-containing products designed for smoking, heating, inhaling, or using orally or nasally.

He added that selling tobacco products for 30 percent less than the daily price index suggests that smuggling may have occurred.

“The mere possession of smuggled agricultural products in any warehouse, vessel, transport, and other storage areas will be considered prima facie evidence of agricultural smuggling as economic sabotage,” Lumagui said. —Mariedel Irish U. Catilogo