Counterfeit products worth billions were seized over the weekend by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in Guiguinto, Bulacan province, north of Manila. Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, with agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS), uncovered the illegal goods in an early morning Saturday raid on the Richard Isagani Sandy (RIS) 5 Industrial Complex in Barangay Tabe, Guiguinto. Representatives from the Intellectual Property Manila Associate-Brand Protection Specialist confirmed that the samples were indeed counterfeit products of original brands Palmolive, Dove, Sunsilk, Creamsilk, Johnsons, Safeguard, Cetaphil, Gucci shoes and Marlboro, among others. Counterfeit goods are classified as prohibited under Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. Faeldon said the BoC’s efforts to suppress the proliferation of fake products are meant to protect consumers, local manufacturers and the public.

Source: Manila Times June 18, 2017 13:07 UTC