P1.6 million fake Lee jeans seized

Elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confiscated over the weekend an estimated P1.6 million worth of counterfeit Lee jeans from several establishments in Pasay City.

The NBI-Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) raided two outlets and two stockrooms of A.S. Paral Collection and Sonda Fashion Collection and collected a total of 2,351 pairs of fake Lee jeans and short pants.

Owners of the said establishments would be slapped with charges for trademark infringement and unfair competition. The NBI warned the public against unscrupulous traders who sell fake products, especially this Christmas season.

The authorities served the search warrants to retail outlets located at Stalls 1L-2, 1L3, 1A-7 and 1A-8 at Galleria Baclaran Shopping Mall along Taft Avenue Extension in Pasay City.

They also visited the stockrooms at unit no.120 first floor Hao Yao Building, nos. 90-91 Cuneta Avenue and unit no. 230 second floor Pasay Metro Center, Taft Avenue Extension in Pasay City.

The search warrant was issued by Judge Henrick Gingoyon, Branch 117 of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court.

The NBI received a complaint from the market research firm Orion Support Inc., which represents the intellectual property rights of H.D. Lee Company in the Philippines. The IPRD conducted its own test buy before securing a warrant.