Today (December 15), the Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) simultaneously destroyed 448,494 illicit vape products nationwide, involving an estimated PHP1.34 billion ($22.8 million) in unpaid taxes and penalties. The destruction formed part of a three-day anti-illicit trade campaign and was publicly live-streamed to demonstrate transparency and enforcement.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the action sends a clear message that the government will not tolerate the sale of vape products without proper excise tax stamps. He stressed that excise taxes on vape and other “sin products” are meant both to discourage consumption and to fund government healthcare programs.
Mendoza said enforcement will intensify to remove unstamped products from the market and prevent risks to consumers.