The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized P428 million worth of suspected counterfeit clothing at the Port of Manila in Tondo, Manila.
In a statement, the BOC said the shipment containing 1,287 boxes of counterfeit apparel arrived in the Philippines in August.
The cargo was misdeclared as socks but a physical examination of the shipment showed that it actually contained counterfeit apparel bearing trademarks of popular brands.
The shipment originated from Bangladesh but was transhipped to Singapore before being forwarded to Manila to evade the BOC’s profiling system.
“The sale and distribution of counterfeit products not only deceive consumers but also harm honest businesses that comply with the law,” BOC Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla said.
“This operation reflects our continuing resolve to ensure that only legitimate goods enter the Philippine market,” he added.
The BOC said a warrant of seizure and detention for the cargo has been issued on Oct. 28 for violating provisions of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
It added that the shipments are now subject to condemnation and that criminal charges will be filed against those involved in the smuggling of the counterfeit clothing.
The BOC said representatives from the affected brands expressed their gratitude for the BOC’s vigilance in protecting intellectual property rights and fair competition from counterfeit goods.
“We take this responsibility seriously because every counterfeit item that enters our borders affects Filipino livelihoods, both the workers behind legitimate brands and the consumers who deserve safety and authenticity,” said BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno.
“As the new commissioner, my focus is on strengthening enforcement, modernizing our systems, and ensuring that every action of the BOC reflects our mandate to serve the Filipino people,” he added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News
