BIR files 8.7B Tax Evasion Cases against multiple Large-Scale Illicit Vape Businesses

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), headed by Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal charges against illicit vape businesses bearing the brand names Flava, Denkat and Flare, for evading Php8,681,028,850.82 in taxes. The charges were filed the morning of April 29, 2025.

"Today, the BIR has filed criminal cases for tax evasion against large-scale illicit vape businesses. They have failed to pay 8.7 Billion pesos in taxes. We have warned all those who want to enter the vape industry to register with the BIR and pay proper taxes. This is what happens when you keep violating our tax laws." Commissioner Lumagui stated.

The criminal charges include unlawful possession of vape products without payment of excise tax under Section 263, tax evasion under Section 254, failure to file excise tax returns under Section 255, all in violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.  The recovery of deficiency excise taxes and penalties which have not been paid by the illicit vape traders amounting to almost 9 Billion Pesos are included in the criminal charges filed by the BIR.

"Expect more criminal cases to be filed against illicit vape traders. Whether your business is large or small, as long you sell illicit vape, you will be imprisoned. Celebrities and influencers found to be in conspiracy with illicit vape traders will also be imprisoned. Illicit vape ends now." Commissioner Lumagui stated.

The filing of criminal charges against illicit vape retailers/resellers is part of Commissioner Lumagui's intensified war against illicit vape traders in the country. Aside from the tireless raids conducted by the BIR, Commissioner Lumagui has incessantly reminded the public to report all stores with illicit vape.   

Also, with the rampant sale of illicit vape products, CIR Lumagui reminds all promoters and advertisers of vape products to be responsible in promoting only vape products which are legitimate and tax compliant.  Otherwise, appropriate legal actions will also be filed against them.

The Battle for the Nation’s Soul: What Matters Most—Environment, Corruption, or Fake News?

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a world gasping under the weight of multiple crises, the question “What matters most?” feels almost cruel. When the seas rise, forests fall, truth is twisted, and justice is sold to the highest bidder, choosing one battle over another seems impossible. Yet, the times demand clarity. And so we ask: What matters most—the environment, corruption, or fake news?

The answer isn’t easy. But the urgency is undeniable.

The Environment: Our Dying Breath

The environment is not just a cause—it is our cause for survival. With each typhoon that levels villages, each drought that kills crops, and each polluted river that poisons communities, we are witnessing the slow erosion of our very existence.

The Philippines, a country once rich in biodiversity, is now facing environmental collapse. Illegal logging, mining, plastic pollution, and unregulated urbanization have reduced paradise into peril. The forests of Sierra Madre—our last line of defense against deadly storms—are being eaten alive by greed. Coastal towns are vanishing under rising tides, and marine life is suffocating beneath a blanket of trash.

But here's the tragedy: it's not nature that's failing us—it's our stewardship.

Corruption: The Rot Within

If the environment is our body, corruption is the disease that infects it. It is the silent saboteur that drains our nation of its strength. Every tree cut without permit, every contract padded with kickbacks, every policy written to benefit the few over the many—it all leads back to corruption.

We’ve seen it for decades: disaster funds that vanish, development projects that crumble, leaders who speak of “public service” with one hand behind their back taking bribes. Corruption doesn’t just slow down progress—it steals hope. It’s the reason why environmental protections are ignored, why fact-checking institutions are underfunded, and why we are always rebuilding from the last tragedy rather than preparing for the next.

Corruption poisons everything, from governance to conscience. It turns servants of the people into kings of manipulation.

Fake News: The Weapon of the Weak-Minded and the Wicked

Then comes fake news—a monster with many heads. It is no longer just misinformation; it is disinformation, weaponized and precise. It invades our phones, floods our timelines, and rewrites reality.

Fake news erodes public trust. It empowers tyrants, justifies environmental destruction, and shields the corrupt. It divides families, communities, and entire nations. The digital battlefield is no less dangerous than the burning forest or the smoky backrooms of corrupt officials. When truth becomes negotiable, democracy becomes disposable.

And the most terrifying part? Many don’t even know they’re being deceived.

Which Matters Most? All Three—Because They Are One

To isolate one issue is to ignore how deeply interconnected they are.

Corruption enables environmental degradation. Fake news protects the corrupt. The destruction of the environment is justified and hidden through propaganda and lies. It’s a vicious triangle—a loop that perpetuates the suffering of the people and the decay of our nation.

The Wazzup Pilipinas founder argues that fighting just one isn’t enough. We must fight all three with equal fury. Environmentalism must be backed by clean governance. Truth must be the weapon we wield to expose the corrupt and protect the planet.

The Filipino's Choice: Passive or Powerful?

In the end, the question is not what matters most, but rather: What are you doing about what matters?

Will we remain indifferent while our children inherit a world on fire, a government for sale, and a truth diluted by trolls? Or will we stand, speak, and storm the gates of apathy?

It’s not enough to care. We must act—with facts, with principles, and with courage.

Because what matters most… is that we no longer wait for someone else to fix what we all helped break.

Sovereignty at a Crossroads: ECJ’s Ruling on Malta’s MEIN Program Sparks Europe-Wide Constitutional Reckoning

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A seismic ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has sent shockwaves across the investment migration industry, decisively ending Malta’s Exceptional Investor Naturalisation (MEIN) program and igniting a far-reaching debate on the future of national sovereignty within the European Union. For legal experts and global mobility consultants like Global Citizen Solutions, the decision marks not merely the closure of one program—but the opening of a Pandora’s box on constitutional identity, legal boundaries, and the evolving fabric of EU governance.

The End of MEIN: A Judicial Earthquake

The ECJ’s decision, long anticipated yet still dramatic in its implications, struck at the core of what had been considered a sovereign prerogative: the power of a Member State to determine who can become its citizen. With the MEIN program now set for termination, Malta's attempt to blend economic investment with a structured, lawful path to citizenship has met an unexpected end—despite its rigorous multi-tiered vetting process, philanthropic components, and civic residency requirements.

“This is not just a ruling on one program; it’s a ruling that presses into the boundaries of constitutional identity,” emphasized Patricia Casaburi, CEO of Global Citizen Solutions. “The Court has stretched the concept of mutual trust well beyond its previous limits.”

A Program Misunderstood

At the heart of the controversy lies a clash between perception and practice. Critics have often caricatured citizenship-by-investment initiatives as transactional loopholes—“golden passports” traded for euros. Yet, according to Global Citizen Solutions, the MEIN program was designed with nuance and diligence. Far from being a mere financial exchange, it mandated real ties to Malta through residence and community engagement.

“These were not symbolic requirements,” explained Casaburi. “They reflected a contemporary understanding of citizenship—one rooted in participation and presence, not just financial clout.”

The Legal Quake Beneath the Surface

But the ECJ ruled otherwise. In a bold maneuver, the Court asserted that national citizenship decisions may fall under the scope of EU law when they impact the rights of EU citizenship. This, according to Joana Mendonça, General Counsel for Global Citizen Solutions, “is uncharted territory”—especially considering that the Advocate General had advised the contrary, reaffirming that nationality lies within the sole competence of Member States.

“What we’re witnessing is a form of soft federalism by the back door,” Mendonça warned. “The EU hasn’t declared itself a federal union, but the legal reasoning increasingly resembles one.”

Indeed, the logic of spillover effects—where national policies are scrutinized due to their potential cross-border consequences—has quietly redrawn the lines of competence and consequence, all without the democratic consent of a treaty change.

A Precedent with Profound Implications

The implications are not limited to Malta. Across the bloc, other nations are watching closely, questioning whether their own sovereign decisions might one day fall under similar scrutiny. As Mendonça pointed out, this could usher in a new era of legal ambiguity—where legitimate applicants, who entered these processes in good faith under clear national laws, are left with uncertain outcomes.

“The principle of legitimate expectations must be respected,” she urged. “We cannot punish individuals who followed the law as it stood.”

Beyond Malta: The Resilience of European Residency

While the MEIN program now fades into history, Global Citizen Solutions reassures that Malta’s Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) remains unaffected. Distinct in its structure and legal scope, the MPRP offers residency—not citizenship—and continues to operate securely within current EU frameworks. Moreover, other European residency-by-investment programs across Portugal, Greece, and Spain remain active and unaffected.

“The ECJ may have spoken, but this conversation is far from over,” concluded Casaburi. “The Union must now confront foundational questions: What defines its scope? Where does national control end and supranational oversight begin?”

Navigating the New Normal

Global Citizen Solutions, a leading voice in the citizenship and residency consultancy space, urges stakeholders—governments, scholars, civil society, and EU citizens—to re-engage with these vital constitutional questions. As legal interpretations evolve and power dynamics shift, the firm remains dedicated to providing expert, strategic guidance for individuals and families seeking stability, mobility, and global access in an increasingly complex world.

Access the Full Legal and Policy Analysis

To better understand the ECJ ruling, its broader legal implications, and how it may reshape European governance, visit the Global Intelligence Unit’s in-depth analysis:

Turning Point for Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation Program

Global Citizen Solutions is a data-driven consultancy specializing in residency and citizenship by investment, real estate advisory, and strategic mobility solutions for international families and investors.