Personnel allegedly involved in illegal refilling of LPG tanks nabbed in Cavite

Authorities arrested the plant manager and personnel allegedly involved in the illegal refilling of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks in General Trias, Cavite.

The personnel were reportedly caught in the act of refilling LPG tanks of known brands, according to a report by Marisol Abdurahman on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday.

Armed with a search warrant, operatives of the Anti-Organized Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (AOCU-CIDG) of the Philippine National Police entered a compound and found the personnel.

They said the suspects even attempted to flee.

Those inside the compound who were customers having their LPG tanks refilled were also arrested.

"Hindi po sila allowed na mag-refill ng product," Police Major Bryan Salveron of AOCU-CIDG said.

(They are not allowed to refill the product.)

Salveron said they conducted surveillance on the plant before the search operation was done.

"Nag-conduct kami ng test-buy. Mga about four times kami nag-conduct just to ensure na talagang nagkaroon ng illegal refilling sa loob ng refilling plant," he said.

(We conducted test-buy [operations]. We did it around four times just to ensure that there really was illegal refilling inside the refilling plant.)

The suspects were brought to Camp Crame.

They refused to give a comment, but the company lawyer said there was no illegal activity.

"We're not doing anything illegal. I'm pretty sure of that. So that's why I'm saying that everything will be resolved in court in due time," Atty. Francis Tiu, legal counsel of Pryce Gas, said.

A representative of the complainant however said that their dealers were the ones who told them about the alleged illegal activity.

"'Yung pinakabarbula niya, 'yung kinakabitan ng regulator, pinapalitan po 'yon. 'Yon po ang delikado. 'Pag sumingaw po, doon na magkakaroon ng aksidente na magkakaroon ng malaking sunog," Jonathan Dulay, brand protection agent, said.

(They are changing the valve which is connected to the regulator. That is dangerous. If there is a leak, accidents such as big fires may result.)

Authorities confiscated some equipment at the plant.

The appropriate charges have been filed against the suspects. —KG, GMA News