In line with the relentless campaign of the government to eliminate the proliferation of counterfeit or fake products, National Bureau of Investigation operatives have seized various counterfeit products worth more than P24 million for violation of Republic Act 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
NBI Director Dante A. Gierran said the success of the operations by the NBI is a product of a well-coordinated effort with other agencies of the government such as the Department of Trade and the Philippine National Police which has jurisdiction over the areas of operation.
Gierran added that the series of operations were all in compliance with the implementation of search warrants issued by the courts to prevent the proliferation of counterfeit products in the market, adding that the NBI will be relentless in its campaign.
Gierran said counterfeit or fake items with an estimated value of P20,350,000.00 Lacoste products were seized by NBI operatives of the NBI-National Capital Region in the operations in Pasay City and Binondo on July 19.
On the same day, agents of the NBI-Intellectual Property Rights Division seized fake TAIYO welding cables worth P3 million in simultaneous operations in Manila, Caloocan and Quezon City.
TAIYO welding cables are used primarily in construction and for industrial applications. Use of fake or counterfeit welding cables, which are substandard, are fire hazards, which may lead to destruction to property or, possibly, loss of lives, Gierran said. The NBI-IPRD said that authorized establishment to distribute the product is Golden Electrical and Machinery Corp.
Also, in another operation in two shopping malls in Manila on July 26, 2017, fake Jo Malone perfumes with an estimated value of P1,590,000.00 were seized as a result of the implementation of a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court of Manila.