530 fake watches seized in Quiapo

Police arrested two salesladies and confiscated 530 fake Rolex and Tudor wristwatches during a raid last Tuesday in Quiapo, Manila.

Auring Co, 54, and Razel Borinaga, 25, did not resist arrest when elements of the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO), headed by Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., raided stalls 28B and 29B at the second floor of Plaza Miranda shopping mall along Carriedo at 4 p.m.

However, the owner of the stalls eluded arrest.

Ramos said representatives of Rolex Center Philippines coordinated with his office in connection with the selling of fake watches in Quiapo.

The RISOO chief put the subject stalls under surveillance and applied for a search warrant from the sala of Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr. of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24.

Accompanied by the lawyers of the local watch distributor, Ramos confiscated 350 fake Rolex wristwatches and 180 Tudor wristwatches.

According to Ramos, the fake watches were purchased abroad and sold at prices ranging from P1,700 and P2,500.

Borinaga and Co claimed they had no idea that the wristwatches were fakes.

Ramos said they are preparing the filing of violation of intellectual property rights charges against the owners of the stalls.