Latest news with #P30
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- GMA Network
NBI seizes over P30 million worth of unregistered vapes in Laguna
The unregistered vape products were found in a storage facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Photo: NBI Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized over P30 million worth of unregistered vape products in Laguna, bureau director Jaime Santiago said Tuesday. 'Hindi registered. Substandard. Walang permit. Pati 'yung bahay na ginawang bodega, walang permit sa Sta. Rosa,' Santiago said in a press briefing. (These were not registered. Substandard. No permits. Even the warehouse did not have a permit in Sta. Rosa.) According to the NBI, undercover agents met with three sellers, who led them to a storage facility located in a residential area to complete the transaction. Once there, they showed the products, consisting of 40,500 pieces of vape worth P31.9 million and 3,880 pieces of vape pods worth P640,200. The three individuals were then arrested for violating the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. They have been presented for inquest proceedings, according to the NBI. Meanwhile, Santiago advised the public to refrain from buying products from random outlets. 'Isang paraan, 'wag kayo bumili sa mga basta-basta lang na outlet. Pumunta kayo sa mall kasi sa mall, hindi pumapayag ang malalaking mall na magkaroon ng stall doon na ang binebenta ay illegal,' he said. (One way is to avoid buying from just any random outlet. Go to the mall because major malls do not allow stalls that sell illegal goods.) For its part, the Department of Trade and Industry said that illicit vape products can be identified through a lack of license marks as well as tax stamps or required fiscal marks from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. The DTI said illicit vape products may also have flavors that unduly appeal to minors and improper 50% graphic health warning. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
04-07-2025
- GMA Network
LTO 6 employee's photo used in online scam
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) 6 has warned the public against an online scammer who uses the photograph of its employee to dupe motorists. The person in the photograph is a lecturer at the Traffic Safety Unit of LTO 6. The photograph was posted in a Facebook account, using the handle 'Kho Las.' The said scammer offers fixing package worth P20,000 to P30,000 for LTO 6 courses such as theoretical driving and practical driving, and in the issuance of student permit. On June 30, 2025, two individuals reportedly went looking for the person in the photo at the LTO 6 office. Upon learning of the intention of the two individuals, LTO 6 has conducted an investigation on the identity of the scammer.
GMA Network
14-06-2025
- GMA Network
P29.7M worth of shabu seized from passenger at NAIA 3
Authorities on Friday seized nearly P30 million worth of shabu from a Filipino woman who arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Saturday that when the authorities examined her luggage, they discovered that the illegal drugs, which were worth P29,702,400, were concealed inside an improvised black duct tape pouch. The agency said the illegal drugs, which weighed 4.368 kilograms, had been turned over to the PDEA Laboratory Service for confirmatory testing. Inquest proceedings were conducted for the 43-year-old suspect identified by the alias "Lyn" for importing dangerous drugs, which is a violation of Section 4 of Republic Act 9165. Floating shabu In Ilocos Norte, a concerned resident and two fishermen surrendered to authorities P20.4 million worth of shabu found washed ashore off the coasts of Laoag City and Paoay town. The packs of shabu were surrendered to combined elements of PDEA Ilocos Norte Provincial Office and local counterparts from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) on June 12 and 13. Photo: PDEA PDEA reported that as of June 13, residents of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte had turned over 1,243.12 kilograms of floating shabu valued at P8,453,216,000 to the authorities. 'The retrieval operations and scouring of coastlines continue until all surrounding areas are explored. This is a testament to the strong inter-agency collaboration and cooperation among law enforcement agencies, in support of local government units and seaside communities, in protecting our waters from becoming prevailing routes of drug smuggling and trafficking activities,'' said PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
13-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Ombudsman fines Garcia for indirect contempt
The Office of the Ombudsman has fined outgoing Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia P30,000 for defying the office's preventive suspension order. The Ombudsman ruled that Garcia is guilty of indirect contempt for not stepping down. In a June 10, 2025 order, the Ombudsman said that 'Despite implementation thereof and its immediately executory nature, you have willfully and openly refused to step down from your position as Governor.' 'On 29 April 2025, you received a copy of the Order of the Ombudsman dated 23 April 2025 ('Preventive Suspension Order') preventively suspending you from Office for the duration of the administrative adjudication of the above-captioned case, but not to exceed six months. Despite implementation thereof and its immediately executory nature, you have willfully and openly refused to step down from your position as Governor,' the Ombudsman said. 'Accordingly, respondent Governor Gwedolyn F. Garcia is hereby declared guilty of INDIRECT CONTEMPT. In consonance with the Rules of Court, a fine not exceeding Thirty Thousand (P30,000) may be imposed as punishment for Indirect Contempt.' 'Wherefore, for defying Preventive Suspension dated 23 April 2025, the Ombudsman finds respondent Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia GUILTY of INDIRECT CONTEMPT, and is hereby imposed a FINE of Thirty Thousand Pesos (P30,000), payable to the Office of the Ombudsman,' the order reads further. The Ombudsman placed Garcia under preventive suspension for alleged grave abuse of authority for allegedly granting a special permit to a construction company illegally. But Garcia did not heed the suspension and obtained a TRO from the CA. It is with this TRO that she questioned the indirect contempt ruling. She said in a message to GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak: 'A TRO has been issued against his preventive suspension order by the Court of Appeals. In fact, several media outlets reported the that the Office of the Ombudsman has filed a Motion to Quash on the said CA order. This, in effect, acknowledges the existence of the TRO. By citing me for indirect contempt, is Ombudsman Martires insisting now that he does not respect the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Court of Appeals?' (With report from Fe Marie Dumaboc, GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)
GMA Network
13-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Ombudsman fines Gwen Garcia P30,000 for indirect contempt
The Office of the Ombudsman has imposed a fine of P30,000 on outgoing Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia after finding her guilty of indirect contempt. In a copy of the order posted by GMA Integrated News' Joseph Morong, the Ombudsman said Garcia refused to step down as governor despite a preventive suspension order issued by the office on April 23 and received by Garcia on April 29. BREAKING: Ombudsman rules outgoing Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia guilty of indirect for defying Ombudsman suspension order; fines P30,000 @gmanews @24orasgma — Joseph Morong ???????? (@Joseph_Morong) June 13, 2025 "Despite implementation thereof and its immediately executory nature, you have willfully and openly refused to step down from your position as Governor," it read. The Ombudsman's suspension stemmed from allegations that Garcia granted a special permit to Shalom Construction, Inc. on May 14, 2024 without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or a Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or prior study/consultation with other relevant government agencies. GMA News Online has requested comment from Garcia regarding the matter, but she has yet to respond as of posting time. Garcia previously said her legal team would challenge the suspension. She had also said the issuance of a special permit to Shalom Construction, Inc. was approved by the Provincial Board, which earlier declared the entire Province of Cebu under a state of calamity due to acute water shortage. Garcia lost in the recent gubernatorial race to her closest poll rival Pam Baricuatro. She has filed an election protest with the Commission on Elections (Comelec). — VDV, GMA Integrated News
