Police Senior Inspector Nino Lope Briones of the CIDG’s Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division examines two almost identical cans and labels of the original La Filipina Luncheon Meat (left) and the counterfeit “Supreme Luncheon Meat” (right) that police seized from Easymart. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Over 400 pieces of fake luncheon meat canned goods were seized by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on two supermarket branches in the cities of Marikina and Mandaluyong, police said Wednesday.
A total of 427 cans of 350-gram “La Filipina luncheon meat” were confiscated Tuesday from the Easymart Superstores on Sumulong Highway, Sto. Niño and on New Panaderos Street in Kalentong, Senior Superintendent Bartolome Bustamante, CIDG’s anti-fraud and commercial crimes unit chief, said in a report.
Arrested was Cresensia Felecio who is facing a case for violating Republic Act 8293 or the intellectual property code.
Both stores are said to be owned and managed by Andrew Ian Chan and Bernice Viola Chan.
Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montessa of the Manila regional trial court Branch 46 issued the search warrant, which stemmed from a complaint filed by Philippine Leading Infinite Logistics, Inc. (PLILI) – distributor of La Filipina Luncheon Meat – against Easymart for allegedly selling canned goods bearing fake food
labels that were confusingly similar to their best-selling La Filipina Luncheon Meat brand.
PLILI counsel Giancarlo Puyo said canned goods bearing the name “Supreme Luncheon Meat” sold at Easymart used an almost exact copy of the label, fonts, color and photos of the original and registered La Filipina Luncheon Meat. He advised consumers to be more discerning and check the labels carefully to ensure that they were purchasing the original product.
Puyo said use of fake labels was an underhanded tactic of unscrupulous traders to deceive consumers who patronize popular brands like La Filipina.
He said his client would not hesitate to file charges against those caught selling fake La Filipina canned goods.
PLILI and La Filipina Uygongco Corporation filed cases of Unfair Competition and Trademark Infringement against Easymart for its alleged unfair trade practices that, if proven, would carry a penalty of two to five years imprisonment.
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