Four individuals were arrested by the Philippine National Police after they were allegedly caught transferring petroleum products without authorization in Navotas City.
Based on a report submitted to the PNP National Headquarters, personnel of the Navotas City Police Station were conducting routine patrol and visibility operations at around 6:30 a.m. along Kanduli Street in Barangay NBBS Dagat-Dagatan when they noticed suspicious activity involving two boats and a tanker truck.
Upon verification, responding officers found the suspects allegedly transferring petroleum products from the vessels into the truck.
Police said the suspects failed to present permits, licenses, or documents authorizing the possession, transport, or transfer of the petroleum products. This prompted their arrest for alleged violation of Section 2 of Presidential Decree No. 1865, as amended.
Seized during the operation were a tanker truck loaded with approximately 3,000 liters of petroleum products, two boats believed to have been used in the transfer activity, a 50-meter suction hose, and two generator pumps.
The recovered items were turned over for proper documentation and investigation, while the suspects remain under police custody pending the filing of appropriate charges before the Office of the City Prosecutor.
PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. lauded the alertness of the responding personnel, noting that the arrest stemmed from routine police presence in the community.
“Minsan ang pinakamahalagang operasyon ay nagsisimula sa simpleng pagpapatrolya. Dahil sa pagiging mapagmatyag ng ating mga pulis, natukoy at nahinto ang isang aktibidad na posibleng may epekto sa kaligtasan ng publiko at sa lehitimong negosyo,” said PGen Nartatez.
He said the PNP will continue to intensify operations against illegal activities involving petroleum products and other forms of economic sabotage.