BACOLOD City — A 72-year-old man was arrested and an estimated P90,000 worth of petroleum products and equipment were seized in a police operation against the illegal refilling and sale of petroleum products in Barangay Banago here.
The operation was conducted at about 2:43 p.m. on August 31 at Prk. Riverside by personnel of the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and Police Station 3, with a representative from a private gas company.
Police said the suspect was caught in the act of selling petroleum products during the operation.
Recovered were three filled butane canisters used as buy-bust items and a P100 bill used as buy-bust money.
Police also seized P1,207 in suspected proceeds, a digital weighing scale and an improvised refilling device.
Authorities further confiscated 15 filled 50-kilogram LPG cylinders, six sacks of filled assorted butane canisters, three sacks of empty butane canisters and nine crates of filled assorted butane canisters.
The suspect, a resident of the area, was arrested for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 11592, or the LPG Industry Regulation Act.
He is currently detained at Police Station 3 pending proper disposition and the filing of appropriate charges.
The CIU-BCPO served as the lead unit, with Police Station 3 providing support./PN
