In a statement issued on January 6, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomed remarks made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett during a December 30 press conference in Canberra, which highlighted close Philippine-Australian cooperation in the investigation.

Prime Minister Albanese publicly thanked Philippine authorities for their assistance, noting the role of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in facilitating information sharing.

“I also want to take the opportunity to thank… President Marcos, my friend, the President of the Philippines as well. Through him, the agencies in the Philippines have done everything they can to provide information in a timely way, and that’s a good thing,” Albanese said.

The DFA underscored that the Australian Federal Police’s assessment aligns with earlier findings of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which found no indication that the suspects received training or logistical preparation during their stay in the Philippines from November 1 to 29, 2025.

Commissioner Barrett said “there is no evidence to suggest they received training or underwent logistical preparation for their alleged attack” while in the country, adding that “there is no evidence to suggest these alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell or were directed by others to carry out an attack,” while stressing that the investigation remains ongoing.

She also credited Philippine authorities for their swift cooperation, saying that “without their swift response, much of the CCTV footage that is now under review by our investigators would not have been available.” Barrett emphasized that the Australian Federal Police and the Philippine National Police have worked together for decades on counter-terrorism cooperation.

The December 14 attack at Bondi Beach, which occurred during a Hanukkah celebration, left at least 15 people dead and injured dozens more. Australian authorities have described the shooting as an antisemitic attack inspired by Islamic State ideology. The case drew attention in the Philippines after reports emerged that the suspects, a father-and-son pair, had spent several weeks in Davao City shortly before the incident.

Philippine officials, including National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, have repeatedly said there is no evidence the suspects engaged in militant activity while in the country, rejecting claims that the Philippines served as a terrorist training base.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro reiterated Manila’s firm commitment to counter-terrorism, saying the Philippines will continue to work closely with Australia and other partners to prevent violent extremism.

As the investigation continues, both governments signaled that cooperation will remain focused on intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and capacity-building to address transnational security threats, including terrorism.

“This not only harms the economy but fosters corruption at multiple levels,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel in a news release last week (July 14), as he detailed the President’s marching orders to go after smugglers, their backers, and enablers with the full force of the law.

Secretary Tiu Laurel confirmed that he has already met with newly appointed Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre, and officials from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to craft a joint strategy targeting the syndicates flooding local markets with illegal imports.

“The President has directed the DA to throw the book at the consignees and all those involved in smuggling these agricultural products. By the end of the year, we hope to see many of those responsible handcuffed, facing charges,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel.

He added that customs brokers who facilitate these illegal shipments will also be held accountable under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law, the Food Safety Act, and the Customs Code.

Uninspected imports—many of which come from Port of Xiamen in China—pose serious threats not only to local livelihoods but also to public health and biosecurity, with potential risks to the country’s plant and livestock industries. The government has since heightened surveillance on shipments from the Chinese port, which has been identified as a major exit point for smuggled agricultural goods.

The President’s directive comes amid growing outrage from farmers’ groups and industry stakeholders who have long decried how smuggling devastates farmgate prices, destabilizes local production, and rewards criminality at the expense of the country’s food sovereignty.

In a news release, the DTI declared these products unsafe and unsuitable for public use, and warned retailers and online sellers to comply with regulations or face severe penalties.

The latest haul—covering 88 unauthorized vape brands—brings the total value of illegal vape products seized since 2023 to more than ₱56 million.

Citing violations such as the lack of tax stamps, Philippine Standard (PS) license marks, and improper health warnings, DTI said this is a public health issue.

Many products were also found to be deliberately packaged to appeal to minors, including those with fruity flavors, cartoon imagery, and candy-like branding—clear breaches of Republic Act 11900 or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act.

Operations were conducted by the DTI’s Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products (OSMV), in collaboration with the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine National Police, and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

DTI said the campaign aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Bagong Pilipinas” agenda, aimed at strengthening consumer protection and law enforcement through a whole-of-government approach.

In addition to on-the-ground seizures, the DTI reported the takedown of over 104 million digital entries—including pages, posts, and product listings—across major e-commerce and social media platforms.

The department also flagged 628 violative physical establishments and issued 385 formal charges, show-cause orders, and notices of violation. Trading has been suspended for 10 non-compliant vape brands.

Violators of RA 11900 face hefty fines and possible imprisonment:

For packaging and labeling violations (Section 4):

• 1st offense: ₱2 million fine, up to 2 years’ imprisonment
• 2nd offense: ₱4 million fine, up to 4 years
• 3rd offense: ₱5 million fine, up to 6 years or license revocation

For marketing violations targeting minors (Section 12):

• 1st offense: ₱100,000 fine
• 2nd offense: ₱200,000 fine
• 3rd offense: ₱400,000 fine, up to 3 years’ imprisonment, and possible license revocation

DTI is urging all vape retailers, manufacturers, and distributors to fully comply with RA 11900 to avoid legal consequences and protect consumers—especially youth—from harmful and misbranded products.

Consumers are encouraged to report violations to the DTI’s OSMV Communications Unit at OSMV@dti.gov.ph or OSMV_Comms@dti.gov.ph. For vape-related complaints, individuals may also file through the DTI Consumer Care System at ConsumerCare@dti.gov.ph.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is up in arms — not against criminals or syndicates — but against a Christmas party attendee wearing a police uniform. A foreigner, no less, who dared don the blue garb in what appears to be a harmless, festive jest.

So, the PNP cites Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code, wagging the threat of a six-month jail sentence — to which one might ask: Why so stiff about it, Brigadier General Jean Fajardo?

We get it: the law prohibits the unauthorized use of official uniforms. But the spirit behind that tenet in the law addresses misrepresentation and misuse that bastardizes or stains the uniform of a state officer.

Question: Was this instance a bastardization of the uniform?

First of all, if this foreigner wore it as a costume to a party, at worst, it could have been a tongue-in-cheek nod to the country’s force.

Now, imagine, for instance, if this foreigner were a member of the diplomatic corps — wouldn’t it be easy to think that this member of a foreign mission was paying a lighthearted tribute to the Filipino nation?

If this were a high-ranking embassy official, that act should be flattering for surely it would elevate the perception of the PNP uniform.

But what ticks me more about the PNP being antsy is – what’s the PNP’s media tantrum all about? I mean no disrespect to our national police, but let’s not pretend it enjoys spotless prestige, given that many “scalawags in uniform” are the very first ones tarnishing its image.

The irony thickens when we consider how freely the uniform appears in movies, TV dramas, or — more controversially — in crime stories involving actual PNP officers. For many years as a news reporter, editor, and columnist, this corner has tackled countless cases of police linked to extortion, illegal drugs, and even murder.

Yet here we are with the PNP spokesperson making a spectacle over a Christmas costume.

More baffling is the subtext. If whispers are true and this costume party offender is indeed a high-ranking diplomat from a very close ally of the Philippines, the PNP’s reaction borders on tone-deafness.

Let’s say, for example, this staunch ally is one like Japan — a defense and economic partner whose aid bolsters the nation’s maritime capacity — what value is there in the PNP stirring unnecessary controversy at the risk of alienating foreign goodwill?

Rather than pursuing media frenzies over minor infractions, perhaps the PNP could focus on cleaning its ranks. For now, the real crime here is making such a fuss over something so trivial.

At least someone found the uniform worthy of wearing. If it were most of the people I know and you task them to wear the PNP uniform to a party, they’d likely say “Yuck!”

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SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View via X app (formerly Twitter). Read current and past issues of this column at http://www.thephilbiznews.com