Lawmakers and law enforcement officials warned that the unchecked proliferation of the illicit tobacco trade is financing terrorist groups, including the Abu Sayyaf. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, expressed alarm over the broader impact of illicit tobacco on government revenue... read full story
"Another consequence is that profits from illicit trade are reportedly being funneled into terrorism, making this issue not only an economic concern but also a threat to peace and order,"