Department of Justice. INQUIRER
A complaint has been filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against four individuals allegedly engaged in illegal refilling of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Facing complaint for violation of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines are Liezl A. Doroteo (FLD Marketing), Henfherd D. Catsuela (Jheybee LPG Store/Pure Gaz LPG Store), Ronaldo G. Lugtu (R&B Gas and General Merchendise) and Jun Goloya (Goloya Marketing/West Gas).
Unauthorized refilling of branded LPG cylinders, a form of unfair competition punishable under RA 8293. Under a circular issued by the Department of Energy (DOE), LPG Cylinders can only be refilled by their brand owners or their authorized refillers.
The complaint was filed following a series of raids conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The NBI has raided 19 plants over the last 10 months as part of its of crackdown against illegal LPG refillers in the country citing the risk that they are putting on the lives and properties of millions of households.
An estimated five million Filipino households use LPG.
Hwever, an alarming 3.5 million or 70 percent of these are suspected to be using defective LPG cylinders due to the unsafe practices of illegal refillers. TVJ
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