AUTHORITIES led by the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), are ready to file criminal charges this week, specifically on February 3, 2026, against individuals responsible for the estimated ₱1.1 billion worth of illegal cigarettes seized in Batangas City on New Year’s Eve.
This Batangas case signals the first major implementation or “opening salvo” of Republic Act (RA) 12022, known as the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which was enacted in 2024 to combat various agricultural crimes, including smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel operations.
The new law classifies tobacco as among the protected agricultural products and denies bail for offenders who could face possible life imprisonment upon conviction.
PNP-HPG chief B/General Hansel Marantan expressed strong confidence in the cases’ merits, emphasizing that convictions are highly likely given the strong evidence and identification of key personalities involved, such as the consignees, the truckers, and other individuals behind the operation.
“We see a big chance of conviction here, if I can say 100 percent,” Marantan declared during a *news forum last week in Quezon City.
He also disclosed that among those to be charged is the wife of a Customs personnel who was among the trucking consignees.
Marantan said financiers and funders of the Batangas illegal cigarette operation—some of whom have already been identified but are currently overseas—will face charges upon their return to the country.
For the time being, authorities are moving to submit evidence for the issuance of arrest warrants against them.
He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Interior Secretary Remulla, and PNP chief Nartatez are closely monitoring the progress of the case and are providing all the resources and support including seasoned lawyers from the justice department to make sure that the cases are airtight.
The PNP HPG chief likewise noted that the Batangas operation was a collective effort of the HPG, Bureau of Customs, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and other agencies.
PNP Director of Operations PMGen Francis Cariaga emphasized that the Batangas case serves as a “test case” for RA 12022, especially since the estimated value of the contraband far exceeds the ₱10 million threshold stipulated in the law.
Cariaga said since the law was passed in 2024, a solid “all government” approach was adopted by law enforcement agencies “when it comes to anti-smuggling operation.”
The origin of the case traces back to the recovery of approximately ₱1.1 billion worth of illegal cigarettes from trailer trucks and a container van found unattended in Sitio Singko, Barangay Balete, Batangas City, on December 31, 2025.
Police discovered the contraband after tracking a stolen sedan via its global positioning system (GPS) to the lot containing the illicit goods. The stolen vehicle was found inside the container truck along with the illegal cigarettes.
Marantan earlier described the massive seizure as a “big black eye to smuggling syndicates,” highlighting its significance in the ongoing fight against organized agricultural crime.
During the same news forum, it was revealed that more than ₱3.3 billion worth of tobacco contraband was confiscated in back-to-back operations from New Year’s Eve through January 2026.
This surge began with a record-breaking ₱1.5 billion haul in Malabon City on January 2, where 18 container vans of unregistered imported cigarettes were uncovered by PNP operatives—just a day after the ₱1.1 billion Batangas seizure.
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