CIDG, NTC seize illegal phones worth P.6 million

CEBU, Philippines - Two cellular phone establishments were raided by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 assisting personnel of the National Telecommunications Commission yesterday morning along Colon St.

Jieri Marketing and 1GB Cellshoppe, both located along Colon St., were raided yesterday around 9 a.m. by CIDG-7 operatives led by Sr. Insp. Ricky Neron and the NTC personnel by virtue of a search warrant granted by Regional Trial Court Branch 10 judge Soliver Peras last Thursday.

The owners of the said establishments were identified as Marie Engco Datalan, Kevin Ang and Muana Zo.

Dennis Rocamora, officer-in-charge of the NTC Bohol field office, said the raid was conducted after it was determined the establishments violated the rules and regulations of NTC.

Among these violations were the alleged sale of substandard phones and the sale of phones without the NTC seal.

Rocamora added that cellular phones must have an NTC seal to verify that the suppliers of the said products have paid taxes for them.

“Basta naa gani NTC Seal, pasabot ana miagi na siya sa mga supplier sa Philippines ug nibayad na sa tax clearance,” Rocamora said.

“Mupalit gani ug cellphone, mas maayo ug branded gyud with the NTC logo, kay kung maguba, naay mga piyesa nga pwede mapalit kay branded man gyud,” Rocamora added.

Neron also told The FREEMAN that their office has been receiving different complaints from civilians about the quality of the cellular phones being sold by the said establishments that prompted them together with NTC to conduct an operation.

Neron added that 642 cellular phones of assorted models were confiscated from the said establishments, all with an estimated amount of P600,000.

Neron added that they will submit the confiscated cellular phones to the court. He also said that they will file a case against the owners of the said establishments.

When asked what he thought about the quality of the recovered cellular phones, Neron said “Practically speaking, ‘yung mga China phones mura, pero when it comes to the quality, iba talaga eh.”    (FREEMAN NEWS)