MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH | JUSTICE | PROGRESS
Volume XI, No. 015
www.mindanaodailynews.com
Saturday, June 19, 2021
P15.00
CIDG Iligan seizes smuggled cigarettes By MARK FRANCISCO and SONNY SUDARIA
T
HE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) field unit in Iligan City confiscated 12 cases of assorted smuggled and counterfeited cigarettes last Thursday, June 17 in barangay Pala-o. “The vendors were apprehended for selling cigarettes that have no government tax stamps – a loss of almost P400,000 to government in revenues,” reported PLt. Benjie Tundayag of CIDG Iligan City field unit. The seized items are four packs of Marlboro, eight reams of Hero, three pieces of Deputy, three pieces of Berlin, four pieces of Fort, five pieces of San Marino, two pieces of YS, one piece of Bros, one piece of Delta, one piece of Champion, one piece of Royal, five packs of Mighty, 20 pieces of as-
sorted brands containing 15 reams, two pieces P100 as buybust money and P3,060 as proceeds. The confiscated illicit cigarettes have a total estimated market value amounting to P178,000. Arrested during the operation was vendor Mosaimen Pantara, 22 years old and a resident of the said place. According to Tundayag, the suspect is a member of the Hajie Camar smuggling group that is operating in Iligan City and the entire Lanao del Norte. Newly installed Bureau of Customs revenue district 10 Atty. Elvira Cruz speaks to See SEIZES, page 11
reporters in her office June 18.
Wrong information deters smokers from switching to better alternatives Advocates of tobacco harm reduction (THR) urged adult smokers to discern the science behind non-combustible alternatives as misleading and false information may push them away from switching to better nicotine alternatives like vapes and heated tobacco products (HTPs). “The perception of harm from vaping is not consistent with the scientific evidence. Local public health experts should take the lead in providing Filipino smokers who cannot or do not want to quit smoking by themselves or with currently-approved methods with accurate scientific information on e-cigarettes and other better nicotine alternatives,” Clarisse Virgino, Philippine representative to the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) said. Virgino was referring to a study done by Public Health England (PHE), an executive agency of the UK Department of Health and Social Care that found “the
proportion [of smokers] who thought v api n g w a s less harmful than cigarettes declined from 45 percent in 2014 to 34 percent in 2019.” T h e s e misperceptions, according to the report, are particularly common among smokers who do not vape. “Increasingly incorrect perceptions among the public about the harms of vaping could prevent some smokers using vaping products to quit smoking,” the report said. See DETERS, page 11
photo by mark francisco
New R10 Customs head vows to continue exceeding targets By MARK FRANCISCO and MONA LAGBAS
LAWYER Elvira Cruz, the newly installed district collector of the Bureau of Customs revenue district in Northern Mindanao, expressed hope that the office under her supervision will continue exceeding targets as they have been in the past two years. Cruz took over the position from district collector See CUSTOMS, page 11
Malaybalay City confirms new Covid-19 positive cases BY OSCAR LEDESMA, MDNN Bukidnon News Bureau
MALAYBALAY CITY - The City Government of Malaybalay City has reported 14 new covid-19 positive cases as of June 17, this year. With the second wave of the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19), Bukidnon, particularly Malaybalay and Valencia cities are the most affected places in the province. As this developed, the Provincial Government has implemented measures, passed ordinances and executive orders to prevent the spread of the killer virus in other areas. Just like other areas in the country, the Province has also made mandatory
the wearing of facemasks, face shields, social distancing and the use of alcohol and washing of hands in many places. It also passed ordinances purposely to avoid the spread of the virus which is also wrecking havoc in the province. In the past days, the Bukidnon registered daily positive cases of over one hundred persons which also shocked the province. Based on the advisory of the City Government, the following are those who contracted with the deadly coronavirus disease: Confirmed case No. 918 - is a 41-year-old female
medical frontliner residing in Barangay Casisang. Confirmed case No. 919 - is a 52-year-old female residing in Barangay 6. Her 59-year old husband is confirmed case No. 920. Confirmed case No. 921 - is a 57-year-old female residing in Barangay 7. Confirmed case No. 922 - is a 27-year-old male frontliner residing in Brgy Casisang. Confirmed case No. 923 - is a 33-year-old female residing Brgy 1. Confirmed case No. 924 - is a 44-year-old female residing in Carmenville, Brgy Casisang. CCNs 918 to 924 are in quarantine at the NMWRC See REVEALED, page 11