CLARK FREEPORT -- Assorted fake goods – including six fake Rolex watches intercepted at the Port of Clark estimated to be worth P1.8 million were destroyed by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL)-National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) over the week.
These destroyed goods were among the various counterfeit products seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) from various areas and ports as a result of the continuing efforts of the Bureau to secure the country’s borders.
The six pieces of fake Rolex wrist watches from Thailand were seized by the BOC Port of Clark last February. The items were found inside the luggage of an arriving passenger at the Clark International Airport and were subjected to physical examination to verify the x-ray images. Physical examination yielded six pieces of fake wrist watches bearing the brand “Rolex”.
Immediately, a warrant of seizure and detention was issued by acting district collector Atty. Lilibeth Sumbilla-Sandag against the subject parcel for violation of Section 118 (f) and Section 1113 (f) of the Republic Act No. 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The ceremonial destruction of counterfeit and pirated goods coincided with the celebration of the National Intellectual Property Rights Month and the BOC’s bid to fight the proliferation of counterfeit goods in the local market.
Importation of fake goods is prohibited under Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the “Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines”.
Meanwhile, assorted fake shoes and soaps came from the operation conducted by the operatives mainly composed of personnel from the Intellectual Property Rights Division under the Intelligence Group in Sucat, Paranaque on January 29.
Other goods destroyed by IPOPHIL are fake cigarettes, bags, wallets, phones, phone accessories, shirts, belts, as well as CDs and money chips, among others confiscated by other apprehending agencies.
“The BOC will remain steadfast in securing our borders and in protecting the local consumers against fake and hazardous goods,” said Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero.
Present at the condemnation was Deputy Commissioner Raniel Ramiro of the Intelligence Group who spoke in behalf of Commissioner Guerrero. (PR)