MANILA, Philippines—Around P30 million worth of fake cigarettes were seized in two warehouses in Bataan, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP Chief PGen. Debold Sinas reported that the Police Regional Office 3, with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other local authorities, raided Crisostomo Rice Mill Warehouse in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Orion, Bataan.

They discovered units of cigarette-making machines and raw materials worth around P20 million.

A Follow-up operation was conducted where authorities seized an undetermined quantity of imported sacks of rice and master cases of counterfeit different brands of cigarettes. The seized items have an estimated value of P10 million.

“I commend our police units and other pillars of the criminal justice system for their support in the fight against criminality. The successful raid today is just a manifestation of our long-lasting cooperation to better serve and protect the community from all kinds of lawlessness,” Sinas said. –AAC

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified two suspects in the killing of Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay Vice Mayor Restituto Calonge.

A regionwide manhunt operations are underway, according to PNP. Authorities identified the suspects as Er Mangod and Jomar Taiting, who are alleged members of the Anwar Ansang gang.

The two were tagged for shooting Calonge and Engineer Edgar Pampanga on Friday (February 26). They are also involved in gun for hire, piracy, and illegal drug activities in the region. AAC

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) said 800 police frontliners are on the list of priority groups to receive the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine.

PNP Chief PGen. Debold Sinas said that the agency plans to vaccinate 200 personnel per day for four days.

Among the 800 PNP frontliners on the list are doctors, nurses, and staff at the PNP General Hospital, as well as police personnel manning PNP’s molecular laboratory and quarantine facilities. PNP Health Service PBGen. Luisito Magnaye and his command group are also included in the list.

Meanwhile, vaccine recipients will have to undergo five steps under the vaccination program. First step is registration, followed by pre-vaccination counselling, screening process to asses if they are qualified to be vaccinated, then the vaccination.

After receiving the shot, vaccinees need to stay at the monitoring area for one hour to check if there are experiencing bad effects from the vaccine.

Sinas also assured that doctors and ambulance are on standby to bring personnel who may experience adverse effects, to the PNP General Hospital. AAC (with reports from Lea Ylagan)