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Finance secretary Frederick Go met with officials of the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Cebu to review revenue performance, operational developments and enforcement initiatives
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The finance chief and the delegation inspected seized containers of illicit cigarettes at the Cebu International Port
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The BOC-Port of Cebu and BIR also joined Go at a press conference in Mandaue City on the destruction of seized illegal cigarettes
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The visit strengthened coordination among the DOF, BOC and BIR on revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling efforts
Department of Finance (DOF) secretary Frederick Go met with officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Cebu to review revenue performance, operational developments and enforcement initiatives.
Joining the finance chief were Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group deputy commissioner Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero, DOF undersecretary Atty. Rolando Ligon, BOC Legal Service director Atty. Victor Pablo Trinidad, District collector Atty. Zsae Carrie De Guzman, and officials of the Port of Cebu and BIR.
During a working lunch, the BOC-Port of Cebu and BIR briefed Go on their respective accomplishments, revenue performance, operational developments and priority initiatives, according to a DOF media release.
The delegation later proceeded to the Cebu International Port to inspect seized containers containing illicit cigarettes.
The inspection emphasized the government’s initiatives to combat illegal trade, support lawful businesses, and preserve government revenues through enhanced enforcement and better inter-agency collaboration.
“I assure everybody that the Department of Finance is fully supporting the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue in their efforts. We will continue to strengthen enforcement and hold those who engage in illegal activities accountable,” Go said.
Illegal cigarettes
They then proceeded to Mandaue City, where the BOC-Port of Cebu joined Go and the BIR for a press conference on the destruction of seized locally manufactured cigarettes.
READ: BOC-Cebu seizes P980M illicit cigarettes at Mandaue City wharf
The cigarettes that were destroyed had an aggregate tax liabilities of P240.64 million.
The BIR said these were seized during operations carried out by its regional strike team from October 2024 to June 2025, wherein counterfeit Internal Revenue stamps, manufacturing machines, cigarette raw materials, packaging materials, chemicals and other production supplies were also confiscated.
DOF said the activity underscored the coordinated efforts of the government’s revenue agencies to address the illicit tobacco trade and ensure the proper disposition of confiscated goods.
The visit also strengthened coordination among the DOF, BOC, and BIR to advance the government’s revenue collection and enforcement priorities, the agency added.
READ: BOC charges 40 importers, brokers in anti-smuggling drive; 4 convicted since July
