Manila, Jan. 9 -- The chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means has filed a resolution seeking a legislative investigation into the rising incidence of large-scale tobacco smuggling and its impact on public health and government revenues.

House Resolution 636, which was filed by Marikina 2nd District. Rep. Miro Quimbo on Thursday, also seeks to identify enforcement and inter-agency coordination gaps, evaluate the adequacy of existing penalties and regulatory tools, and strengthen measures to safeguard government revenues.

In a statement on Friday, Quimbo said the recent seizure of thirty-two trucks allegedly carrying PHP2.6 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes confirms that organized cigarette smuggling remains a serious national ...