NBI identifies sphere of operations of illegal LPG refillers

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is expanding its surveillance of alleged illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder refilling operations in Southern Tagalog following reports that the provinces of Batangas and Quezon have reportedly become the biggest area of operations for this perilous trade.

The NBI started last year a nationwide crackdown on the illegal trade following complaints by homeowners and local governments that establishments involved are posing serious threats to their communities.

The crackdown resulted in the recent filing of charges by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Omni Gas Corporation and Republic Gas Corporation (REGASCO) based in Pasig City and Malabon, respectively. Also charged following raids by the NBI were Northland Gas Corporation in Laoag City, and Romars International Gases Corporation (Marsflame) in Bicol.

According to the NBI, initial reports bared that illegal refillers are allegedly coercing LPG outlets to market their unauthorized products. The NBI said it will look "deep into the root of the illegal trade" in the region and flush out the syndicates behind the racket.

The NBI repeated its warning that the operation of illegal refillers pose serious risks to the safety of both households and commercial establishments. Illegally-refilled LPG cylinders, the NBI said, do not have the safety features of the standard authorized products.

NBI officials had expressed concern that the absence of the legally mandated safety measures and quality standards in the illegally-refilled cylinders "significantly raised the possibility of domestic accidents.

The NBI also said illegal refillers are defrauding the public into believing that the LPGs they are buying come from the company whose name appears in the cylinder when they in fact were refilled by another entity with standards of safety different from the genuine cylinder owners.

The NBI also decried reports that illegally refilled cylinders tend to be underweight by as much as 40 percent. This is an outright cheating of unsuspecting consumers, they said.

The Department of Energy has also earlier filed charges against several establishments suspected of engaging in the illegal trade. Among these are Capitol Allied Trading, Excel Gas Corporation, Lukban Gas, Inc., Eslee Trading and J. Gutierrez Gas Center.