Police seizes P58.7-M worth of fake cigarettes, 25 `uncleared’ laptops
Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame. File photo.
MANILA, Philippines — Fake cigarettes worth P58.7 million and substandard laptops worth P500,000 were seized by police in Pangasinan and Quezon City.
READ: CIDG’s Bulacan, Valenzuela raids yield seizure of P2.4-B fake cigarettes
According to the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), 1,064 mastercases of alleged trademark infringed cigarettes were seized in a series of operations in Urdaneta, Villasis and Manaoag in Pangasinan.
The cigarettes were confiscated following the arrest of the delivery driver of the cigarettes, identified simply as “Algie.”
“He was caught in the act of trading cigarettes which allegedly infringed a trademark,” the CIDG said in a statement.
“Follow-up operations led to the discovery and confiscation of the questionable cigarettes in separate warehouses located in Alibaba Compound, Bacag, Villasis and Zone 6, Lelemaan, Manaoag, all in Pangasinan,” it added.
Trademark infringement
The suspect was then charged before the National Prosecution Service for Violation of Section 155 (Trademark Infringement); Section 168 (Unfair Trade Competition); and Section 169 (False Designation of Origin) of Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, an operation in Gilmore, New Manila Quezon City led to the seizure of 25 laptops worth P500,000 which did not pass clearance from the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC).
The CIDG arrested the possessor of the laptops—identified as “Alma”—who was caught selling and trading the substandard laptops.
According to the CIDG, the suspect was arrested as the laptops lacked the necessary dealer clearance from the NTC, as well as the required certification from DTI.
“Thus, [the laptops] fell short of the consumer protection standards and are illegal for trading,” the CIDG said.
Alma was charged for violations of Article 18, paragraph (a), of Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines in relation to Section 2 of NTC MC 08-08-2004.
