The worsening problem of cigarette smuggling in the country is now being likened to the controversial Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), as authorities warn of billions of pesos in government revenue losses, according to a report by RH Milky Rigonan on Damdamin Bayan.

During a committee hearing on Wednesday, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairperson and Marikina City Representative Miro Quimbo described the illegal cigarette trade as the “new POGO,” saying it has evolved into a large-scale criminal enterprise operating nationwide.

The lawmaker raised the alarm, citing not only the massive loss in tax revenues but also the serious threat posed to public health.

“Contraband cigarettes are not a new problem. However, what is new and deeply alarming is the scale, frequency, and brazenness of the situation today. It has become a major criminal enterprise akin to POGOs: malawak na ang operasyon mula Luzon hanggang Mindanao, may mga banyagang kasangkot, at mga Pilipinong backer,” Quimbo said.

The hearing was prompted by the January seizure of 32 trucks loaded with an estimated ₱2.6 billion worth of contraband cigarettes. The operation, conducted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, took place in Malabon and Batangas.

Authorities reported that the smuggled cigarettes originated from Taiwan, China, and Malaysia and entered the country through transshipment schemes. Some shipments were allegedly routed through Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi before being distributed elsewhere in the country.

Quimbo warned that had the illegal goods reached the market, the government would have lost around ₱1 billion in tax revenues. Beyond the financial impact, he stressed that the availability of cheap, untaxed cigarettes endangers public health, particularly among the youth.

While cigarette smuggling has long plagued the country, Quimbo said the scale and organization of current operations are unprecedented.

“Habang bumababa ang pagkolekta ng buwis sa sigarilyo, parami nang parami naman ang nagsisigarilyo taon-taon. Ito ay dahil mas maraming tao ang naninigarilyo ng contraband cigarettes na hindi nagbabayad ng buwis,” he said.

“Like lung cancer caused by smoking, if we do not treat the cancer of illicit cigarettes, this problem will spread and worsen,” Quimbo added.

To address the issue, Quimbo has filed House Resolution No. 636, calling for further investigation and stronger enforcement measures against large-scale cigarette smuggling operations.