A truck driver was arrested for allegedly siphoning diesel fuel from a tanker truck in a police operation in Alitagtag, Batangas, on Monday, July 20, 2026. INQUIRER FILES

LUCENA CITY – A truck driver was arrested for allegedly siphoning diesel fuel from a tanker truck in a police operation in Alitagtag, Batangas, on Monday.

In a report on Tuesday, the Batangas Police Provincial Office (BPPO) said officers responded to a tip about ongoing fuel pilferage that was taking place in Barangay Dominador East at around 5:40 p.m.

Police caught the 48-year-old suspect allegedly transferring diesel fuel from the tanker into containers.

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READ: 4 held for fuel theft in Laguna

Recovered from the suspect were two 20-liter containers filled with diesel fuel valued at about P3,200, along with a siphoning hose believed to have been used in the theft.

The illegal activity is commonly known as “paihi,” a local term for urination but, in criminal parlance, it refers to the unauthorized siphoning of fuel from tankers or storage facilities to be re-sold.

In a statement, BPPO Director Col. Oliver Ebora said, “Oil pilferage is an economic crime that undermines public safety and depletes vital national resources.”

The suspect remains in police custody and is facing charges for violating Presidential Decree No. 1865, also known as the Oil Pilferage Law./coa

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