Manila: The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has filed a formal complaint against two personnel from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) due to their involvement in a raid on a Bulacan warehouse, which contained allegedly smuggled cigarettes.

According to Philippines News Agency, the complaint, spanning seven pages and filed on August 28, was lodged by PNP-HPG Police Corporal Melvin Habbiling. It was based on the sworn affidavit of Jesus Froilan Acebes Carpiso, an alleged middleman, who identified BOC Special Agent Lucky Joy "Joy" Solmayor and BOC Technical Support Staff Alexander "Alex" Arroyo Jr. as present during the raid.

The complaint further requested that this Honorable Office admit the sworn statement of Carpiso, along with other supporting documents and electronic evidence, as integral parts of the case records. It also emphasized the need for Solmayor, Arroyo, and Jocelyn Miano Bancairen to be included in the preliminary investigation and determination of probable cause, suggesting that subpoenas be issued against them.

Carpiso's affidavit mentioned that Solmayor and Arroyo were present at the warehouse when the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-National Capital Region (RHPU-NCR) executed the raid. He alleged that both BOC personnel received payment in exchange for 225 boxes of smuggled Red Carnival cigarettes during the entrapment operation on August 19.

Carpiso, acting as the middleman, facilitated the sale of the cigarettes and accompanied Solmayor to the warehouse, where they encountered Arroyo shortly before the RHPU-NCR's arrival. The raid by civilian-clothed HPG operatives on August 19 led to a standoff with uniformed customs personnel during a legitimate cigarette incineration operation, eventually defused by BOC officials.

The incident was later clarified to have resulted from operational confusion, as the HPG operatives had mistakenly targeted the wrong location within the area.