The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested two individuals involved in an alleged illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refilling activity in Barangay Don Montano, Umingan, Pangasinan.
Acting on a Search Warrant for violation of Republic Act No. 11592, or the “LPG Industry Regulation Act,” operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Provincial Field Unit (CIDG-PFU) in Pangasinan conducted the operation from 4:30pm to 11pm at a commercial LPG refilling facility.
Two suspects were arrested on-site, while seven other individuals, composed of three females and four males, including one identified as a security guard, were not present during the implementation of the search warrant. They have since been identified, and follow-up manhunt operations are ongoing to locate and arrest them.
Recovered during the operation were two units of refilling heads with final weighing scale, ten additional units of refilling heads with weighing scale, one motor compressor, one pump motor, and three illegally refilled LPG cylinders. The total value of confiscated items reached P4,340,000. All arrested suspects and seized evidence were brought to CIDG-PFU in Pangasinan for documentation and proper legal proceedings.
The operation reflects the PNP’s continuing campaign against unauthorized LPG refilling activities that pose serious risks to public safety and consumer protection. This is aligned with the PNP Focused Agenda, a transformation framework aimed at strengthening police service delivery, with emphasis on enhanced managing police operations and active community support in addressing illegal and hazardous commercial practices.
PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. underscored the firm stance of the organization against illegal and unsafe commercial operations.
“We will continue to intensify our operations against individuals and groups engaged in illegal activities that endanger public safety and consumer welfare,” Nartatez said.
“Hindi po namin palalampasin ang mga ganitong uri ng gawain. Asahan ng publiko ang tuloy-tuloy na aksyon ng PNP laban sa mga lumalabag sa batas,” he added.
As the PNP intensifies its campaign against illegal commercial and regulated industry violations under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., it continues to assure the public of “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong mabilis, tapat, at nararamdaman.”