THE PHILIPPINE National Police arrested recently several distributors and suppliers of fake cigarettes being sold in shopping malls and markets.
Charges of violation of Republic Act No. 8293, the Intellectual Property Code, were filed against the distributors in Llanera, Nueva Ecija province, and Imus City, Cavite province.
Even vendors were not spared, with two charged with selling fake Mighty and Marvel cigarettes in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, according to
San Jose police chief, Supt. Nolie Asuncion.
PNP Deputy Director General for Operations Danilo Constantino, acting on instruction of Director General Ricardo Marquez, tapped the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the drive against counterfeit products in coordination with the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue.