Cigarette maker denies using fake stamps

MANILA, Philippines - Mighty Corp. (MC), the country’s only Filipino-owned cigarette manufacturer, tobacco company, yesterday strongly denied it is using fake stamps in its operation.

“Our operation is transparent and closely monitored by revenue authorities from sourcing of raw materials to manufacturing and withdrawals of cigarettes,” said retired regional court judge Oscar P. Barrientos, MC executive vice president and spokesman.

“In fact” he said, “our company’s operation is the only one monitored by close-circuit cameras required by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and it’s also on records that MC has spearheaded the campaign all over the country against the proliferation of  fake cigarettes using fake stamps.”

Barrientos issued the denial, following news reports that appeared to single out the local cigarette firm.

Barrientos said as of today MC has not received any notice of investigation by the BIR and if ever there would be, “we are prepared for it as our records are always open for scrutiny by the BIR.”

“We are hoping that if ever this is done, BIR should include in its investigation not only local manufacturers but also multinational companies and their local partners who are known for importing large quantities of raw materials without paying correct taxes to the prejudice of our local farmers,” Barrientos said.

“It’s on records that as early as two years ago, Mighty has coordinated with BIR, the Bureau of Customs, police and the National Bureau of Investigation in the seizure of fake Mighty cigarettes and other brands and the arrest and indictment of persons involved in the smuggling, manufacturing and marketing of contraband cigarettes,” Barrientos said.

According to Barrientos, Mighty has been subjected to unfair publicity by its rivals after its products have succeeded in eating up a large share of the market in the low-priced category once dominated by multinational rivals who remit abroad a large part of their income to the prejudice of the Philippine economy.