The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has scored anew in its campaign against counterfeit products with the recent confiscation of some P10 million worth of fake apparel.
Agents of the NBI’s Intellectual Property Rights Division, headed by lawyer Jose Justo Yap, said the fake products – which bore the brand names BMW, Roxy and Quicksilver – were seized last week in a series of raids on various establishments in Manila and Pasay City.
In his report, Yap said the confiscation stemmed from a complaint by lawyers representing local distributors of the three companies regarding the proliferation of fake products bearing their trademarks.
He said they conducted surveillance and test buys last May 28 and confirmed that counterfeit products were being sold in three locations in Tondo and another in Pasay City.
Armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Reynaldo Ros of the Manila regional trial court, the NBI – IPRD agents raided the establishments reportedly owned by a certain Masibag Chua.
Among the establishments raided by the NBI were Naty’s Cap and General Merchandise at King’s Plaza building on Juan Luna street in Tondo; 2W6 and 2W5 on the second floor of the same building.
The NBI also raided Helical Merchandising’s stalls at the Baclaran LRT Shopping Mall on Taft Avenue Extension. Amparo Sia Galviz allegedly owns the establishment.
A total of 815 BMW caps, 413 BMW t-shirts, 5,813 Quicksilver caps, 152 Roxy caps – all counterfeit – were seized during the raids.
The owners of these establishments will be charged with violation of Section 168 of Republic Act 8293, or the Intellectual Property Rights Code of the Philippines.