DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 13 -- The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in Negros Oriental is ramping up its anti-smuggling efforts in the province following the seizure of "smuggled" cigarettes in Basay town over the weekend.

Police Executive M/Sgt. Aurelio Bodo, chief of the Special Operations Team for Negros Oriental at the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-Negros Island Region, said on Monday that there may be significant smuggling activities originating from Mindanao.

"We began investigating these purported smuggling operations as early as July, before our discussion with the executive judge and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) here seeking advice on our approach," Bodo told the Philippine News Agency.

Bodo said they consulted with Negros Orient...