Group disputes PH losses from illicit trade in tobacco

An international anti-tobacco organization has slammed a report published by the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC) and Oxford Economics as unreliable for claiming that the Philippine government was losing P16 billion in foregone tax revenues from illicit trade.

Thailand-based Southeast Asian Tobacco Control Alliance (Seatca) said the Asia-11 Report, which covered supposed illicit trade in eight Asian countries including the Philippines, was actually funded by Philip Morris International and prepared “according to agreed terms of reference provided by Philip Morris Asia Ltd.”