Manila, May 13 -- The Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) on Tuesday backed several proposed measures in the Senate that would help curb illicit tobacco trade.

In a statement, PTI expressed support to the strengthening coordination between law enforcement agencies and local government units; imposing a unified tax rate on all vapor products; mobilizing the Anti-Money Laundering Council; convening the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council; enhancing enforcement against e-marketplaces; and improving prosecution and conviction rates by the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The PTI cited the need to pass measures, noting that for the past year, there had been an unprecedented rise in illicit tobacco products in the ...