2 men selling bottled diesel escape from cops

MANILA, Philippines — Buying petroleum products and reselling them by the roadside in one-liter softdrink bottles could land you in jail.

This was what two enterprising men learned after police from the Northern Police District (NPD) apprehended them while selling bottled diesel and gasoline in Bagumbong, Caloocan City.

The NPD identified the suspects as Ronald Sallan and his brother, identified only as Mr. Sallan, who had escaped before police could properly arrest them.

A report from the NPD’s Special Operations Unit showed that the two were apprehended while selling bottled diesel along TNR in Bagumbong on Friday afternoon, based on reports the police received of their illegal activity.

However, as the police was arresting Ronald, his brother intervened and helped him escape.

The brothers left behind three one-gallon containers filled with diesel, and 55 assorted one-liter softdrink bottles containing gasoline, which the police seized as evidence.

The NPD is now preparing charges of violation of Presidential Decree 1865 against Ronald Sallan, and obstruction of justice against his brother.

PD 1865 is a decree signed in the 1970s by then president Ferdinand Marcos, which incriminates the sale or distribution of petroleum products for profit and without license from the government.