Tsinoy trader held for counterfeit canned goods

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino-Chinese businesswoman was arrested in Binondo, Manila on Monday afternoon for selling counterfeit luncheon meat.

Shuangtin Lin, 43, was apprehended after she received money from a police officer who posed as a buyer of 20 boxes of Ma Ling, a brand from China.

The Manila Police District-Special Mayor’s Reaction Team, led by Maj. Rosalino Ibay Jr., and the city’s bureau of permit recovered 20 boxes of Ma Ling and 10 boxes of canned goods labeled Ma Leing worth P37,000.

The operation stemmed from a complaint by online seller John Regala, 31, who bought 10 boxes, which contained 48 cans of luncheon meat each, worth P14,000 from Shuangtin last Saturday.

Regala told police Shuangtin warned him “not to eat the product but resell it to people who are donating food packages to residents who are still under the enhanced community quarantine.”

The following day, Regala sold some of the luncheon meat to a Chinese client, who later complained that the canned goods were not fit for human consumption.

Under interrogation, Shuang­tin admitted to selling the luncheon meat.

Ibay said the government banned in 2018 the importation and sale of processed pork products from countries affected by African swine fever, among them China.

The suspect was charged with violating Republic Act 10536, the Meat Inspection Code; RA 10611, the Food Safety Act, and RA 11332 or the Bayanihan Heal As One Act.