Tell it to Sunstar: Counterfeit business

A VISIT to the mall these days will give one an idea of how widespread the business of selling fake products has become.

Years ago, counterfeit items were sold in secret, displayed in hidden corners in the downtown area, like any of your regular crime.

But when fake products start to be sold in the open, such as the mall, you know the situation has become alarming.

Distributors of counterfeit items have grown bold enough to penetrate the malls because nobody stopped them when they did it on the streets and sidewalks.

Mall owners welcome these counterfeit traders like legitimate clients now.

These counterfeit items include copies of practically every product that can be copied-–from CDs to RTWs to medicines, from bags to books to bottled water.

Some sectors welcome the availability of these cheap products, but they have no idea how this illegal trade is killing the legitimate manufacturing business slowly, especially local companies.

At the end of the day, it’s the business sector and the buying public who will suffer. It will not speak well of Cebu City as a business destination.

We are one with other legitimate manufacturers in condemning the counterfeit business.

We are also one with the bigger sector of our community in asking the concerned government agencies to do something about the problem before it’s too late.--Habagat Outdoor Equipment, Inc.

Tacloban suffering

It is bad enough that Tacloban City and its suburbs took the brunt of super typhoon Yolanda’s ferocious winds and giant waves.

What is making it worse is that lawlessness among the residents and survivors, brought about by hunger, thirst and frustration, is taking over.

Looting has gone rampant and uncontrollable that not only commercial and residential establishments are being raided but also automated teller machines (ATM).

Unless law and order is restored soon, mob rule will reign supreme at the expense of the old, the frail, the children, the sick, the women, the poor and the rest of the disadvantaged.

Reports that even aid convoys are being pillaged before it gets distributed to the greater number of people – if at all there is still something left -- is simply appalling.

It is getting to be a classic case of survival of the fittest. Hunger, thirst and desperation to feed oneself and family know no fear anymore.

And to think that Filipinos and other concerned citizens are always trying their best to have aid reach the hapless victims the soonest possible time.

“I am a decent person. But if you have not eaten for three days, you do shameful things to survive,” one survivor admitted.

Patience and self-discipline are forgotten.

Because of the fast deteriorating peace and order situation in Tacloban, officials are urging President Benigno Aquino III to declare a state of emergency in the city and, if needed, martial law.

The President, however, said the city council must first pass a resolution to that effect and establish that there is threat of violence or anarchy.

Either martial law or expedite the clearing of roads to facilitate speedy delivery of food, water and other relief goods while mobilizing the military and police forces to maintain peace and order.

This is the most decent manner to go.

But the question is this: Could the temperament of people be a factor when one thinks about how the Boholanos behaved after a monstrous 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck them and the way the Warays are acting now?

Or is the type, manner and degree of devastation have something to do with the temperament of people?

Just asking.--Jesus Sievert

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