The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) operation in Bulacan involving Bureau of Customs (BOC) personnel was a legitimate, coordinated police operation, contrary to reports that Customs agents were disarmed and held at gunpoint.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source familiar with the incident said no BOC personnel were forced to lie down, disarmed or held at gunpoint during the operation.
A video clip of the incident provided by the source showed no Customs personnel being made to lie down, disarmed or threatened with firearms.
Also, the operation was covered by a memorandum dated Aug. 19, 2026, addressed to the regional director, detailing the mission, deployment period and area of operation.
The memorandum listed the mission as investigation and validation of information, case build-up, police operation, surveillance and service of warrant.
The operation was scheduled from 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 19 until 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 20.
The source said the operation stemmed from an online post offering illicit cigarettes for sale.
Around 9 to 10 a.m. on Aug. 19, a confidential agent noticed an online post offering Carnival Red cigarettes and initiated a transaction with the seller.
At around 10 a.m., the confidential agent informed the HPG team, which instructed the agent to proceed with the transaction.
The initial transaction was supposed to involve delivery in Fairview or Caloocan, which prompted the deployment of HPG personnel in the area.
At around 5 p.m., however, the seller informed the agent that the transaction would instead be a pickup.
The HPG team then prepared to move from Fairview, Quezon City, and brought a truck that would be used to transport the illicit cigarettes.
Initial coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was also made by telephone, with a DTI representative requesting reports and other information concerning the transaction.
At around 6:15 p.m., the seller directed the agent to proceed to SM City San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.
This prompted the HPG team to send a coordination letter to the Police Regional Office 3.
At about 7:30 p.m., an information report on the online cigarette sale was forwarded to the DTI representative, who initially assessed that the transaction could constitute a violation of Republic Act No. 11967, or the Internet Transactions Act.
Upon reaching SM Tungko in San Jose del Monte, the seller instructed the confidential agent to meet him at WalterMart Sta. Maria, Bulacan, where he would identify the location of the warehouse.
The team proceeded to the area.
At around 8 to 9 p.m., the seller boarded the private vehicle used by the operatives at WalterMart Sta. Maria and directed them to the warehouse. The confidential agent also boarded the vehicle.
The truck that would transport the cigarettes was instructed to follow the vehicle. Two operatives drove the truck while posing as its driver and helper.
Upon reaching the area, the group encountered a private vehicle.
Its driver, identified as Froilan (Jesus Froilan Acebes Carliso) who was later arrested, and his wife, Cecilia (Cecilia Elnape Sanchez), who remains at large, reportedly told the team that only the truck would be allowed to enter the warehouse and that the use of mobile phones was prohibited.
Inside the warehouse, three individuals, later identified as “Alex and Joy,” who were described as BOC personnel, opened the gate for the truck.
The gate was then closed and the lights were turned off, according to the source.
Alex and Joy reportedly approached the truck driver and helper to collect payment for the illicit cigarettes.
Shortly afterward, the individuals inside reportedly noticed several vehicles approaching and ran toward an adjacent warehouse.
The source said the adjacent facility turned out to be a BOC-authorized condemnation facility where confiscated, seized or recovered smuggled products, including illicit cigarettes, are supposed to be destroyed.
The source said the two warehouses were located beside each other and shared the same gate.
Their locks also had the same design, while the signage identifying the facilities was positioned between them.
This, the source said, may have contributed to the confusion over the location of the police operation.
The police subsequently identified themselves and arrested the individual allegedly involved in the sale of the illicit cigarettes.
The arrested person was informed of the reason for the arrest and of constitutional rights, according to the source.
An inventory of the seized items was also conducted in the presence of the arrested person, barangay kagawad Rogelio Del Rosario and barangay executive officer Ronaldo Gonzales.
The account contradicts reports that HPG personnel raided the BOC condemnation facility, disarmed Customs personnel and pointed firearms at them.
The reports prompted the HPG to relieve its NCR chief, Col. Joey Tomas Caise, and 12 other personnel involved in the operation pending an investigation.
HPG director Brig. Gen. Rommel S. Batangan earlier said the relief order was intended to give way to an impartial investigation into allegations of a confrontation between HPG personnel and BOC agents.
The relieved HPG-NCR personnel were reassigned to the Human Resource Management and Doctrine Development Division-Personnel Holding and Accounting Section effective Aug. 20.
The controversy followed allegations made by broadcaster Ramon “Mon” Tulfo that HPG personnel had disarmed and held BOC agents at gunpoint while attempting to take the seized cigarettes.
The source, however, maintained that the operation was coordinated with the appropriate police authorities and government agencies that there was no disarming, forced laying down or pointing of firearms at BOC personnel.
The source said the video footage and operational documents would help clarify what actually happened during the Aug. 19-20 operation.
