House to probe pols over cigarette smuggling

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January 22, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Politicians allegedly involved in cigarette smuggling that cost the government over P44.8 billion in sin tax losses last year will be investigated by the House of Representatives, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo said yesterday.

“There is impunity in the entry of illegal cigarettes into the country,” Quimbo, chair of the House ways and means committee, told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

“We should not forget that 50 percent of the total sin tax that the government is collecting is going to the health care program, particularly to PhilHealth. Because of cigarette smuggling, the government is losing money,” Quimbo added.

Aside from tax-evading smugglers, the youth are getting easy access to cigarettes, he said.

Quimbo said the resolution he filed seeking the probe would be referred to the plenary.

After that, he said it would be referred to the House committee on rules, then the majority leader will forward it to the ways and means panel.

“Within the next two weeks, we will have an investigation into this matter. We should not forget that smuggling tobacco is now part of the anti-agriculture smuggling (law),” Quimbo said.

Smuggling of cigarettes made in Thailand and Malaysia is being facilitated through transshipment, he noted.