ABOUT P13-million worth of fake products were confiscated by operatives from the NBI-Rizal District Office (NBI-RIZDO) and NBI-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) in separate operations in Quezon City, Manila and las Piñas.
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago said the NBI-RIZDO received information regarding the violation being committed by three individuals of RA No. 8293, for alleged involvment in the marketing, distribution and sale of fake Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. products in Manila.
Following a surveillance and test-buy, the NBI confirmed the information and applied for a search warrant, resulting in the confiscation of about P1 million fake Huawei products on July 5, 2024.
It was learned that the Lee Bumgarner, Inc. (LBI), representative of Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, also filed a similar complaint after finding out that their faked products are also being sold in the makert.
Meanwhile, the NBI-Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO) arrested three individuals last July 3, 2024 in Davao City for selling fake essential oil.
Santiago said the arrest of Eloisa Joy Gumanit Villasencio, Gerry Marapao Taacon and Rey Helbero Omale of the Health Zoe Marketing were nabbed on the complaint of the branch manager of International Pharmaceuticals Inc., (IPI) against Health Zoe Marketing, accusing the latter of violation of RA 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
It was learned from Santiago that the Health Zoe Marketing had been illegally selling “Vaporin” essential oil using the IPI registered mark.
When analyzed in the laboratory, the fake Vaporin did not match the smell, weight and contents of the original Vaporin.
A subsequent entrapment operation was carried out by the NBI-SEMRO operatives with the help of IPI personnel last July 3, 2024 at the Regina Commercial Complex in C.M. Recto, Davao City.
Health Zoe transacted with a poseur-buyer of the NBI where the agent ordered 300 pieces of 10 ml bottles of the fake Vaporin.
The suspect was nabbed while in the act of receiving the payment after handing out the fake products to the NBI poseur-buyer.
Charges for violation of RA 8293 were filed against the suspects before the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office.
