BACOLOD City – A 56-year-old man was arrested after police seized around 1,420 liters of suspected illegally traded diesel fuel in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, on November 3.
The confiscated petroleum products were valued at approximately P120,700, based on the prevailing market price of P85 per liter.
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), through its Regional Intelligence Division (RID), led the operation at around 5 p.m. in Purok Nami-Nami following verified intelligence reports on the alleged illegal siphoning, storage, and trading of petroleum products.
Police identified the arrested suspect only as alias “Panoy,” 56, a resident of Barangay Banago.
Investigators said a police poseur-buyer purchased P1,000 worth of diesel from the suspect using marked money. The suspect was arrested immediately after the transaction.
The operation was supported by personnel from Police Station 3 of the Bacolod City Police Office, Regional Intelligence Unit-NIR, Regional Forensic Unit-NIR, City Intelligence Unit-BCPO, and the Bureau of Fire Protection-NIR.
Authorities confiscated five 200-liter drums and 14 30-liter containers containing suspected diesel, 13 empty buckets, around 150 empty containers, and four manual rotary pumps with discharge hoses.
Three panel vans and an L300 vehicle allegedly used or intended for the storage and transport of petroleum products were also seized.
Initial investigation showed that the petroleum-related activities were allegedly being conducted without the required Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Energy and fire safety clearance from the BFP.
The suspect was informed of the reason for his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
He and the confiscated evidence were brought to Police Station 3 for documentation and proper disposition.
The seized petroleum products are being secured under appropriate fire safety measures pending coordination with concerned regulatory agencies.
Police said a criminal complaint for alleged violations of Batas Pambansa Blg. 33, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1865, and Republic Act No. 10588 is being prepared for inquest proceedings before the City Prosecutor’s Office.
PRO-NIR said it would continue intelligence-driven operations against illegal petroleum activities that threaten public safety and economic stability./PN
