QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Various counterfeit products worth P65.44 million were destroyed at Camp Crame on Friday (April 12).
According to Atty. Josephine Santiago, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPO), the items were only a part of the total P23.6 billion confiscated in 2018 by the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR).
The items include counterfeit branded bags, wallet, shoes, watches, and clothes among others.
Santiago said the entry of such fake items is killing the businesses of legitimate brand owners.
The official, thus, calls on the public to refrain from buying imitations because patronizing such fake products has adverse effects on the country’s economy.
“Dalawa po ang kailangang magtulungan dito, ang mga brand owners at ang ating law enforcement agency. Hindi po makakakilos ang law enforcement agency kung walang pahintulot ang brand owners, (The brand owners and our law enforcement agency should work together on this. Our law enforcement agency cannot move without the permission of the brand owners,)” Santiago said.
Meanwhile, IPO Deputy Director Atty. Ted Pascua said aside from the destroyed counterfeit products, they are also monitoring the possible proliferation of fake medicines and cosmetics materials that might pose health risks.
“Any amount on counterfeit pharmaceuticals is alarming kasi you just don’t know one tablet can kill somebody,” Pascua said.
Among the items destroyed were counterfeit Louis Vuitton wallets (P16.1M); Louis Vuitton bags (P15.820M); fake shoes (P10.120M); fake Oppo cellphones (P10M); Louis Vuitton phone cases (P7.280M); Louis Vuitton notepad cases (P2.420M); and fake Rolex watches (P1.8M). – Marje Pelayo (with details from Lea Ylagan)
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