NBI seizes fake sex enhancement tablets

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation-7 has seized 50 packs of counterfeit dietary supplement from three establishments inside a mall in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.

Supervising Agent Rennan Augustus Oliva said they conducted a test buy prior to the implementation of the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 11 Judge Ramon Daomilas, Jr.

He said they managed to confirm that De Oro Therapeutic CTR and General Merchandise located at the lower ground level of a mall at the North Reclamation Area, Cebu City; 888 International Beauty Focus Collection Inc. in Sto. Niño, Cebu City; and 888 International Beauty Focus Collection Inc. located in M.L. Quezon Hi-way, Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, were selling counterfeits of the sex enhancing product.

Owners Roa Manuel Ayson of De Oro Therapeutic CTR and General Merchandise, Daisy Llagoso of 888 International Focus Collection Inc.-Cebu City, and Cornelia Dayday of 888 International Focus Collection Inc.-Lapu-Lapu City Branch were the subjects of the search warrants.

Oliva said that sometime in February their office received a complaint from ATC Healthcare Corporation Human Resource manager Noel Aguilar on counterfeit sexual enhancement formula Robust Dietary Supplement for Men.

“The original has a frontline security thermal sticker…the blister pack has also a security sticker and it has an ATC logo,” Aguilar said in differentiating the fake product from the genuine item.  He also said that once water is placed on the security sticker an ATC logo will become visible.

He also said that the genuine tablet would not break easily when applied with force using the fingers, unlike the fake ones, which are yellowish in color compared to the authentic products which are grayish brown.

Aguilar advised the public to be careful because counterfeit products are hazardous to the health as they would destroy the liver.

“Examination conducted on the seized counterfeit Robust tablets showed that this contains ingredients hazardous to the health, such as wood putty or masilla,” said NBI-7 Director Ricardo Diaz. Aguilar said that since 2012 their office kept on receiving complaints from all over the country that their product is no longer effective.

This made them seek assistance from the NBI, which found out that there were establishments selling fake sex enhancing products.  May last year, both the NGI and ATC issued a strong warning to the public about fake Robust Dietary Supplement for Men circulating in the country because it could extremely damage one’s health.

A genuine Robust dietary supplement is sold from P100 to P110 while the fake products are sold at P90 to P100.

Interviewed during the raid, a saleslady said she has no knowledge that they were selling fake items.

Oliva said a complaint for a violation of Section 155 and 168 in relation to Section 170 of Republic Act 8293 (Intellectual Property Code) will be filed against the subjects of the search warrants.   Diaz, on the other hand, said his office will continue the hunt for more counterfeit products to identify who and locate the manufacturer. — /RHM (FREEMAN)