By John Rey Saavedra/PNA
CEBU CITY — The Department of Energy (DOE) in Central Visayas on Thursday warned illegal resellers of petroleum products that they face the full force of the law even if local government officials tolerate the illegal activity in their jurisdictions.
DOE-7 Legal Officer Russ Mark Trinidad Gamallo told the Philippine News Agency that the measure which prohibits unauthorized peddling or distribution of “under delivered” and “underfilled” petroleum products is a national law that their office is ought to enforce anywhere in the region.
Under-delivery is term that refers to an act of delivering liquid petroleum like diesel and gasoline fuel in quantity way below the different quantities allowed by the regulation, while under filling refers to delivering liquified petroleum products (LPG) that are also below the minimum capacities per cylinder such as 11kg, 20kg, or 50kg.
Gamallo’s reaction came after Pilar town Mayor Eufrascio Maratas Jr. and other local officials in this town located in Camotes islands in Cebu province sought the ouster of their police chief, Chief Inspector Roy Susvilla, who strictly implemented the law that bans fuel refilling.
The mayor was reportedly upset when Susvilla went around town last Dec. 23, 2018 to inform the public that the local police will conduct operations against retailed gasoline. The police reportedly implemented the operations few days after the public warning.
According to the mayor, the island of Ponson of the Camotes island group where the municipality of Pilar is situated has no gasoline station and that strict implementation of the law that bans the reselling of gasoline in containers has affected the livelihood of the residents.
Residents in the island have to travel to Ormoc city in Leyte to secure fuel, the mayor said.
The Municipal Council of Pilar is initiating a signature campaign, targeting to gather 2,000 signatures.
Gamallo, however, said the DOE-7 supports Susvilla in enforcing the law.
“That may be the initial reaction of the mayor against the police chief, but he must remember that (retailed gasoline) is illegal and the police is just enforcing the law,” Gamallo said, adding that, “the law may be harsh but that is the law”.
The legal officer of the energy department in the region said Mayor Maratas should be the first to enforce the law.
Gamallo offers to help both the municipal office and the police by conducting an information drive about the Batas Pambansa Bilang 33, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1865, the law that prohibits peddling of retailed fuel products.
He said resellers of petroleum products must secure certificates of compliance if they want to re-sell liquid fuel such as gasoline and diesel, and standards compliance certificate for re-selling of LPGs.
The DOE-7 has not received any complaint about retailing of gasoline in Pilar, but Gamallo said that “it is already expected that a remote place like an island distributes under-delivered or under-filled petroleum products”.
“We will continue to tap the Philippine National Police in enforcing the law,” he said.
