Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. has ordered the immediate closure of an illegal tobacco facility operating without a permit in Barangay Margot.
The operation took place on April 8, 2025, following a report from Barangay Margot Chairman Dominador Lising Jr., who flagged the suspicious activity to Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel. The matter was swiftly endorsed to the city’s Business Permit and Licensing Division (BPLD), led by Enrico Romero, for verification.
Upon inspection, the BPLD confirmed that the tobacco hub was operating without the required business permit, prompting Mayor Lazatin to issue a formal notice of closure.
Mayor Lazatin, accompanied by Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, Manuel, BPLD personnel, members of the Barangay Margot Council, and the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO) led by PCol. Joselito Villarosa, personally oversaw the shutdown of the facility.
While no finished cigarette products were found during the operation, the absence raised further suspicions about the nature of the facility’s operations. According to the operator, the site was used solely for drying tobacco before being transported to another location for manufacturing.
The ACPO has launched a separate investigation to look deeper into the matter.
