Cops seize counterfeit PNP sneakers
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) seized 100 pairs of counterfeit PNP rubber shoes in an entrapment operation in Quezon City on Tuesday.
Original pairs from authorized manufacturers are exclusively for members of the police force.
Police said they received a complaint from JP Group of Companies, Inc., one of the three official manufacturers of the PNP rubber shoes.
The firm claimed that counterfeit PNP shoes are being produced and sold in some outlets.
CIDG operatives conducted an entrapment operation and arrested three suspects who delivered P170,000 worth of counterfeit shoes to undercover police officers.
The three arrested suspects were identified as Mark Corporal, 33; Lorenzo Celestial, 35 and Rail Ramirez, 25.
Aristemedes Segismar, factory manager of the legitimate shoe manufacturer, told reporters that an original pair of PNP rubber shoes costs P2,000.
He stressed that the counterfeit rubber shoes were not similar in quality compared to the original pairs.
LOOK: The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group confiscates a hundred pairs of fake PNP rubber shoes in an entrapment operation in Quezon City. Police said the shoes are being sold online. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/DlaOxJ2Aiv
— Cathrine Gonzales (@CGonzalesINQ) February 5, 2019
Segismar said manufacturers of fake PNP shoes even sell it for a higher price as part of their marketing strategy to make it appear original.
Supt. Raymund Liguden, chief of the CIDG Anti-fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit, said the PNP Directorate for Research and Development allows the sale of original PNP rubber shoes in authorized outlets.
He said the counterfeit PNP shoes are also being sold online.
The arrested suspects will be charged with violation of the Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines/ /gsg
