Remulla says ‘endemic’ corruption made illicit tobacco trade possible

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Photo from Jonvic Remulla Facebook page.

MANILA, Philippines — Interior secretary Jonvic Remulla has attributed the P141-billion government revenue loss from illegal tobacco trade to the “endemic” corruption in the country, emphasizing that enforcement efforts should target the operators, and not the small ones.

Remulla made this statement during the Third International Tobacco Summit organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Tobacco Administration on Thursday.

“Corruption is number one. All of this illicit trade is only possible because corruption is endemic,” Remulla said in his speech.

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