AGENTS of the National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday seized some P20 million worth of fake copper masks in a raid at an establishment in Biñan City, Laguna.
Authorities arrested a Chinese national and four of his employees.
Aside from the face masks, operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation – National Capital Region also retrieved packaged face filters, which were also found to be counterfeited.
According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras,” stacks of boxes containing fake copper masks were found by the NBI within an establishment in the city.
The raid was triggered by a complaint filed by Copper Mask Philippines, the manufacturer of the face mask.
Copper Mask Philippines warned the public that using fake face masks is dangerous.
“Hindi nila makukuha ‘yung proteksyon na ino-offer nung produkto ng Coppermask. Una, hindi natin alam kung ano ‘yung mga materyales na ginamit, kung dumaan ba to sa quality control,” Coppermask Philippines legal counsel Atty. Jobz Lazo told GMA7.
Seized during the operation were more than 60,000 fake copper masks.
The NBI said anyone caught selling counterfeit copper masks will be charged with copyright infringement and unfair competition. By J. ELEDA
