TABACO CITY, ALBAY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) intercepted a truck carrying approximately 5,400 liters of undocumented petroleum products on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Tabaco Port.
The seizure occurred at 11:15 a.m. during a routine K9 inspection and outbound cargo check. Authorities flagged the vehicle, which was bound for San Andres, Catanduanes, after noticing discrepancies in its shipping declaration.
The cargo was officially declared as a mix of construction and essential goods:
- Declared Items: Cement, sacks of rice, and solar panels.
- Actual Cargo: Thousands of liters of petroleum products hidden within the vehicle.
- Missing Permits: The transport lacked the mandatory regulatory permits required for the movement of hazardous and flammable materials.
Authorities apprehended the two individuals operating the vehicle:
- Driver: A 54-year-old resident of Barangay Mabini, Caramoran, Catanduanes.
- Helper: A 35-year-old also from the same locality.
Lt. j.g. Earl D. Cacho, commander of the Coast Guard Sub-Station Tabaco, stated that the truck and its illegal cargo were initially held by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) before being turned over to the PCG for safekeeping and further investigation.
The interception comes at a time when the Philippine government is on high alert for fuel hoarding and profiteering due to a nationwide state of energy emergency. Commodore Ivan Roldan, PCG District Commander, warned that the illegal transport of fuel would not be tolerated.
“The Coast Guard remains vigilant in enforcing maritime laws and preventing the movement of hazardous and regulated materials in our ports and coastal areas,” Roldan said.
The PCG is currently investigating the source of the fuel and whether it was intended for the illegal black market or to circumvent ongoing energy stabilization measures.