MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH | JUSTICE | PROGRESS
Volume XII, No. 107
www.mindanaodailynews.com
By Mindanao Daily News Network
Army General, 9 others charged with murder in Plaza’s death DAVAO CITY - A top-ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was formally charged with murder in connection with the death of a model and businesswoman in this city. During a press briefing held at PRO11 headquarters, the Special Investigation and Task Group (SITG) Plaza announced that Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante, commander
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BIR to public: Report unscrupulous traders
Yvonnette Chua Plaza
By JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL Managing Editor
Saturday, January 28, 2023
of the Philippine Army’s 1001st Infantry Brigade (1001IB) based in Maco, Davao de Oro, was charged with murder in the killing of Ms Yvonnette Chua Plaza. Also charged with murder was Durante’s deputy brigade commander Colonel Michael Licyayo. Aside from murder, Licyayo was also slapped with obstruction of justice. Six other personnel of the 1001 Infantry Brigade, See CHARGED, page 11
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) here appealed to the public to report suspected traders of illicit cigarettes to the bureau.BIR Assistant Regional Director Rufo Ranario made the announcement during a press conference, January 25, following the start of the massive, synchronized crackdown on the illicit cigarette trade. “This is a continuing activity of the BIR, so we need the assistance of everyone,” he said.Ranario said the enforcement is important for everyone because if the BIR isn’t allowed to collect taxes, they won’t be able to help pay for public See REPORT, page 11
Drones are military’s best friend BIR Normin begins crackdown in hunting down NPAs in MisOr of illicit cigarettes retailers By FROILAN GALLARDO MindaNews
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Unmanned aerial drones flying over the skies of Misamis Oriental have provided vital information to military commanders hunting down the New People’s Army rebels in the mountains. In highlighting the role See HUNTING, page 11
By Mindanao Daily News Network
The Hermes 900. Photo
from
Elbit Systems
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region 16 launched a nationwide enforcement campaign against illegal cigarette retailers in Misamis Oriental and Iligan City, January 25. Assistant Regional Director Rufo Ranario was
in charge of the operations in Misamis Oriental, while BIR Regional Director Emir Abutazil was in charge of the crackdown in Iligan City. The National Bureau of Investigation and people from local government units that were involved helped with the enforcement work. A total of 19 operations were conducted simultane-
Cigarette smugglers transporting goods in retail-size volumes - BIR By MARK FRANCISCO
FIRST, it was the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Then yesterday it was the turn of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) – BOC’s sister agency under the Department of Finance – to accost fake cigarettes nationwide in a simultaneous midmorning operation January 25. Here in Cagayan de Oro City, BIR-16 personnel led by assistant director Rufo Ranario swooped down
on five retail outlets and confiscated master cases of cigarettes. As of this writing, the number of seized packs were still inventoried. This strategic action was a departure from earlier BIR operations when agents zeroed in on warehouses and discovered the illicit items. “Smugglers now are more cunning. They know they of Internal Revenue (BIR) 16 assistant director Rufo Ranario drives a point are being monitored so they Bureau as he leads his personnel in a press conference after the operation yesterday which do not use 16 wheelers to interdicted a yet to be determined volume of fake and smuggled cigarettes. PHOTO See TRANSPORTING, page 11
BY MARK FRANCISCO
ously during the kickoff: 13 in Barangays Suarez and Tibanga in Iligan City, one in El Salvador City, one in Alubijid town, three in Opol town, and one in Naawan town, Misamis Oriental. As a result of the operations, a large volume of illicit cigarettes was confiscated. Ranario said the illegal See BEGINS, page 11
Pres. Marcos eyes ‘drastic’ reforms to curb smuggling By RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is seeking “drastic” reforms in the bureaucracy to address rampant smuggling, which he said “threatens local industries and affects government tax collection.” “(The President) is See EYES, page 11