Fake goods destroyed at Crame

MANILA, Philippines—Some P350 million worth of fake goods, from Louis Vuitton bags to DVD movies and Lacoste shoes, were flattened, shredded or torn apart in a “ceremonial destruction” Thursday at the Philippine National Police grounds in Quezon City.

The pirated items were part of a stash of P1.7 billion worth of goods seized since the start of the year, according to Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines Director General Ricardo Blancaflor.

The seemingly impossible goal, Blancaflor told reporters, is “zero counterfeit goods” by the end of the year.

“Many are confused why we are so serious about fighting piracy,” Blancaflor said. “Let me enumerate the reasons. Those expensive Louis Vuitton bags—that is equivalent to so many people who lost their jobs in Marikina because people chose to buy imported. Not only imported, but fake, too,” he said.

“How many bag makers in Bulacan have lost their jobs because of fake goods? Those sunglasses—how much taxes were not paid? That is salary that doesn’t reach us because the masterminds don’t pay taxes. Those CDs and DVDs—how many singers and actors are losing money because of them?” he said.

“Ultimately, this is a fight for our livelihood,” Blancaflor said.

Every year, the government loses P10 to P15 billion in taxes alone due to fake or pirated goods, Blancaflor said at Camp Crame.

During the ceremonial destruction, PNP personnel used an armored personnel carrier and a grinder to crush the DVDs and CDs. Some of the police officers also slashed bags and shoes using knives or cutters.