Batangas: Authorities have arrested three suspects for selling PHP7.8 million worth of illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products in Batangas province. In a statement on Wednesday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II said suspects “Guillerma, Romel, and Gerald” were arrested cross-refilling LPG cylinders without a License to Operate from the Department of Energy, at Priority Gas Corp. in Barangay Natunoan in San Jose town on Oct. 9.

According to Philippines News Agency, personnel of the CIDG 4 (Calabarzon) and the LPG Marketers Association Party-list Task Force seized eight refilled LPG cylinders bearing Regasco and Maxx Gas trademarks; 193 empty cylinders from assorted brands, among them Savers Gas, Mabuhay, Island Gas, PryceGas, Maxx Gas, Regasco, and Star Gas; and refilling machines, compressors, weighing scales, a trailer bullet truck containing approximately 38,000 liters of LPG products, and a stake body delivery truck.

Morico stated it is unlawful for any person, without the written consent of the registered manufacturer, bottler, or seller, to fill, sell, dispose of, buy, traffic in, or destroy containers with ownership marks, or to use them for purposes other than those registered by the owner.