Customs destroys P50-M worth of fake goods
SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna — The Bureau of Customs (BoC) destroyed about 500,000 pieces of fake goods worth at least P50 million in an accredited condemnation facility here on Friday.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena led the destruction of the contraband goods, which arrived at the Port of Manila last February and subsequently forfeited after its consignees failed to produce evidence of payment of duties and taxes and show evidence that the items were genuine.
“We will not allow the Philippines to be a dumping ground of counterfeit goods, The BoC will ensure that manufacturers and distributors of genuine brands are protected,” Lapena said, as he appealed to the public not to patronize fake products.
Among the shredded and crushed goods were fake sandals and rubber shoes bearing the brand names, watch, t-shirts, long sleeves, pants, jacket, slippers, and kid’s shoes.
The fake goods were among those intercepted during a warehouse raid in December 2017 at 142 Cuneta Ave., Pasay City by agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS).
Importation of fake goods is prohibited under Section 1113 (f) and (l) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and Section 118(f) of the same law, in relation to Section 166 of Republic Act 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines).
Section 1146 of the CMTA provides that all prohibited goods like counterfeit goods shall be destroyed.
“If these products successfully enter our market, it will affect legitimate businesses in the Philippines, that’s why we proceeded with its destruction. This is to show also that none of the seized items are recycled by the employees of the Bureau of Customs,” Lapena said.
In line with the public interest and transparency on the disposition of forfeited goods thru condemnation, Lapena also directed the district collectors of all Customs ports to publicly show and broadcast the destruction of forfeited items. WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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