2 traders charged for selling fake ‘Dove’ soap

Charges were filed in court yesterday against two businessmen who allegedly sold counterfeit “Dove” soap and other products.

Philip Sison and Lichou Shi Ongsitco will be facing trial for violating Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Bail was recommended at P10,000 for each of the accused.

The issue stemmed from a complaint of Uniliver Philippines Inc. which is the registered owner of “Dove” products.

Uniliver learned about the proliferation of countefeit Dove products being retailed and distrributed in Cebu City.

They sought the aid of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) which raided two stores in barangay Kalubihan, Cebu City on Nov 17, 2009.

Several Dove products – shampoo, soap, face cream and powder, which Uniliver declared as faked, were seized by the NBI-7.

The respondent allegedly sold the counterfeit products at lower rates than the suggested retail prices.

Complaints were later filed against Sison, owner of Sty Marketing; and Ongsitco of Ongsitco Enterprises.

The respondent failed to refute the allegations during the investigation conducted by Assistant State Prosecutor Christine Perolino.

Sison and Ongsitco were chared with “unfair competition” which holds liable “any person who shall employ deception or any other means contrary to good faith by which he shall pass off the goods manufactured by him or in which he deals, or his business, or services for those of the one having established such goodwill.”