By Perfecto T. Raymundo
MANILA, July 29 (PNA) — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said it has seized counterfeit products of signature brands with an estimated value of Php220 million in five shopping malls in Manila.
In a post-operation report, the NBI-Anti-Fraud Division (NBI-AFD) said various counterfeit items bearing the brands Chanel, Cartier, Swatch, Burberry and Panerai were seized in two successive operations on July 27 and 28, 2015 conducted by NBI-AFD operatives on a number of stalls in malls in Binondo and a warehouse along Taft Avenue, Manila.
The NBI-AFD report also said the case arose from a complaint filed by Selective Trademark Union representative of the brand owners that counterfeit items of signature products are being sold in said shopping malls in violation of Republic Act No. 8293, or the “Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines”.
It added after securing the search warrants issued by Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 117 Presiding Judge Eugenio G. Dela Cruz, operatives of AFD conducted the two successive operations resulting in the seizure of the items.
The NBI-AFD said charges for violation of RA No. 8293 are now being prepared against the owners and operators of the stalls.
It added the seizure of Php220-million worth of counterfeit products is by far the biggest haul of the operatives this year. (PNA)