ILIGAN CITY (PIA)–The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) intensified its awareness campaign against the sale of smuggled, fake, or illicit cigarettes.

Media partners from print and broadcast were invited to witness the crackdown operations on 13 retail stores in the city. A press conference was then held to strengthen the awareness campaign against the sale of illicit cigarettes.

BIR Region 16 Director Emir Abutazil thanked the media for joining them and for disseminating information about their pronouncements and messages to the public.

Jamaloden Guro, the assistant chief of the regional investigation division, said they welcome information that will help them find illegal cigarette sellers, distributors, suppliers, or manufacturers.

“Kung dili nato makaya nga i-eradicate, mapagamay nato ang pagbaligya og sigarilyo nga di rehistrado. Tabangan nato ang gobyerno by reporting to us,” he said.

(If we can’t eradicate it, at least we can reduce the sale of unregistered cigarettes. Let’s help the government by reporting to us)

Meanwhile, BIR-Iligan Revenue District officer Amanoding Esmail hopes that the media will help in identifying the distributor, supplier, or manufacturer of illicit cigarettes. He encouraged them to report it to their office so they could issue a mission order.

“We need information. Because without information, we cannot issue a mission order. Vital document ito bago ‘yun mapuntahan,” he said.

(We need information. Because without information, we cannot issue a mission order. This is a vital document before we conduct crackdown operations)

The BIR recently swooped down on 13 retail stores in barangays Suarez and Tibanga that were selling illicit cigarettes that were untaxed, fake, and smuggled. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)