MANILA, Philippines — A gasoline station in Valenzuela City has been padlocked after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) found it selling unmarked fuel — or fuel that was possibly imported without paying the proper tax dues and tariffs.
In a statement on Friday, the BOC said that agents from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) went to a local gas refilling station in Valezuela’s Barangay Ugong to do a routine inspection.
However, Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio said that the CIIS agents found that 56,974 liters of unmarked fuel, estimated to be worth at least P3.1 million, failed the fuel mark test. This meant three of the station’s four tanks were filled with unmarked fuel.
“These fuel marking tests are done to ensure that the fuel being sold to our consumers are safe and have been properly tested and vetted. It is customary and functionary and it complements our border protection duties,” Rubio said.
“The work that we do in the BOC is geared toward one goal and that is to win against all types of smugglers,” he added.
BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso said that inspection of fuel stations is part of a Chain of Custody Activities, which includes marking, sampling, and testing of fuels from source, carrier vehicle or vessel, and destination retail, fuel stations, or storage.
“After the gas station representative acknowledged the Mission Order, our personnel collected samples from the four fuel tanks there. Tanks numbers one to three failed the test, while tank four passed,” he said.
Fuel marking is done by BOC by placing harmless chemicals onto a fuel that would indicate that gasoline or diesel items passed through required tariffs and duties.
BOC previously said that fuel markers are used to guarantee product integrity and protect against counterfeiting and tax fraud.
Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said the following fuel products in the Valenzuela station’s tanks failed the test:
- 19,196 liters of premium gasoline
- 18,680 liters of unleaded gasoline
- 19,098 liters of blended diesel
Only the fourth tank, which had 4,000 liters of blended diesel, passed the fuel marking test.
“Every successful operation by the BOC results in a safer community. Selling unmarked fuel puts people, businesses, and communities at risk,” Uy said.
“Without the necessary fuel markers, we cannot be sure of the safety of the fuel being sold in the market. This isn’t just about money and taxes; this is also about the lives of the people selling and consuming these products,” he added.
According to BOC, the fuel samples will be sent to the SGS Main Laboratory for confirmatory testing.
If proven that the fuel did not have the proper documents and necessary permits, the owners of the gasoline station and compound can face charges for violating Sections 1401 and 1430 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Sections 148-A, 254, and 265-A of the National Internal Revenue Code.
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