MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is strengthening its nationwide efforts to detect and stop fuel pilferage and the operation of illegal fuel storage and distribution sites.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. emphasized that such unlawful activities pose serious risks to public safety.
“These illegal activities pose real dangers to our communities,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
He also warned that violators would face strict legal consequences.
“We want to send a strong message that those who would dare to ignore our warning on this matter will be dealt with the full force of the law,” Nartatez added.
The intensified enforcement follows the discovery of an unpermitted diesel stockpile inside a residential compound in Quezon City.
In response, Nartatez directed the National Capital Region Police Office to conduct a thorough probe and ordered all regional police offices to enhance monitoring, intelligence gathering, and coordination efforts.
He likewise tasked national support units, including the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, to assist in tracking down similar illegal operations.
During the Quezon City raid, police found multiple drums of diesel stored within a house compound after neighbors reported unusual activity involving the transfer of fuel from tankers into smaller containers.
Investigators are currently assessing the duration of the operation and checking for possible similar illegal fuel storage sites in other communities.
Authorities are coordinating with the Department of Energy (DOE) to build a solid case against those responsible, Nartatez said.
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