OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental — Police recovered an estimated ₱79,200 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes after two unidentified men allegedly abandoned their cargo and fled upon noticing the presence of law enforcement personnel in Barangay Villaflor on Sunday afternoon, November 8, 2026.
The recovery took place at around 4:30 p.m. while personnel of the Oroquieta City Police Station were conducting a checkpoint in the area. According to the police report, a barangay kagawad approached the officers and alerted them to the suspicious unloading of several boxes from a red tricycle-type Bao-Bao vehicle.
The two men reportedly noticed the presence of police personnel and immediately fled aboard the vehicle, heading toward the municipality of Calamba, Misamis Occidental, leaving their cargo behind.
Responding officers proceeded to the reported location and recovered two boxes containing a total of 99 reams of cigarettes. The recovered items consisted of 50 reams of Rasean Gold and 49 reams of Diamond Hehua, with an estimated combined value of ₱79,200.
The confiscated cigarettes are now under the temporary custody of the Oroquieta City Police Station for documentation and appropriate disposition.
The identities of the two men remain unknown based on the available report. No arrests were reported in connection with the incident.
The recovery highlights the role of community cooperation in supporting police efforts against the suspected illegal distribution and transportation of tobacco products. However, further investigation would be necessary to establish the origin of the cigarettes, identify those responsible, and determine whether the shipment violated applicable customs, taxation, or tobacco regulations.