April 8, 2026
MANILA – Diesel worth P9.75 million was confiscated and nine individuals were arrested over an alleged illegal fuel transfer scheme in Navotas City on Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
Joint operatives of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), the Maritime Group and the Philippine Coast Guard discovered the modus at Market 3, Pier 5 at the Navotas Fish Port Complex in Barangay North Bay Boulevard South, according to the PNP in a statement.
It noted that the suspects — whom it only identified as Filipino males between the ages of 21 and 57 working as drivers and helpers, including the vessel captain — failed to present the required documents for the transfer.
Initial information from the HPG detailed, “Upon inspection, [the suspects] were caught in the act of illegal refilling or transferring of petroleum products directly to a barge.”
According to the PNP, authorities recovered a fuel tanker with 15,000 liters of diesel and a cargo vessel with 50,000 more liters of diesel as well as some fuel hoses and pumping equipment.
The HPG noted that the nine male suspects were taken into police custody, awaiting charges for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1865, which penalizes the illegal trading of petroleum products.
Under PD No. 1865, the arrested suspects may face fines between P20,000 and P50,000 as well as jail time between two and five years, the HPG further noted.
It added that the petroleum products, the truck and the vessel were forfeited to the authorities, while the police have also sought certification from the Department of Energy (DOE) to determine whether the fuel was locally refined or smuggled from abroad.
Stronger campaign vs illegal fuel trade
For his part, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered all the agency’s regional offices and national support units to strengthen its monitoring and intelligence-gathering against the illicit fuel trade.
“These illegal activities pose real dangers to our communities. 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 said in a statement earlier on Tuesday.
This came after authorities in Quezon City flagged a fuel tanker for allegedly transferring fuel from a tanker to several tanks at a residential area in Barangay Sacred Heart over the weekend.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) previously told the Inquirer that the representatives of the lot owner, a company owned by a certain Jasmine, had explained to the authorities that the fuel was for the company’s use.
However, the company had yet to provide the documents to prove compliance with Bureau of Fire Protection standards in storing fuel in residential areas, according to the QCPD.
“We are already coordinating with the DOE to ensure a solid case build-up against those involved,” Nartatez said of the case.
He also appealed to the public to report any suspicious activities related to the illegal fuel trade.
Both the Navotas City bust and the Quezon City case take place amid the oil supply crisis driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. /jpv