TWO men believed to be involved in the distribution of fake cigarette and other tobacco products in Bulacan and other parts of Central Luzon were arrested by operatives of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in an operation in Hagonoy municipality, a report to PNP chief, General Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan said yesterday.
Suspects Joseph Crisostomo and Romulo dela Cruz were caught in possession of three boxes containing 1,500 packs of ‘Marlboro Red’ and two boxes with 1,000 packs of ‘Fortune Lights’ during the entrapment operation in Barangay Tampoc in Hagonoy.
The PNP-CIDG said that the sting was conducted following a complaint from legal representatives of Philip Morris and Fortune Tobacco Corporation, Inc. regarding the presence of smuggled counterfeit Philippine Morris and Fortune tobacco products being sold in Central Luzon.
Recovered from the two suspects were a motorcycle they used to transport the cigarette boxes and the boodle money topped by a marked bill which they received from an undercover officer.
The two suspects are now facing charges for violation of Section 155 in relation to Section 170 of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
