OVER P200M FAKE FOOTWEAR SEIZED IN BULACAN, PAMPANGA

BY KEVIN GALANG

JOINT operatives of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) on Saturday seized more than P200 million worth of fake footwear products in separate raids in Bulacan and Pampanga.

CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 (RFU3) chief Col. Grant Gollod said the operation dubbed “Oplan Megashopper” was carried out by the CIDG RFU3 as the lead unit, together with the Bulacan Provincial Field Unit, and the Pulilan police.

In Bulacan, authorities raided a warehouse in Bgy. Inaon in Pulilan town.

The raid yielded an estimated P197 million worth of counterfeit footwear and machines.

Gollod said the operation was launched based on a search warrant issued by the Malolos City Regional Trial Court  Branch 7 for violation of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Seized were 1,119 boxes of counterfeit footwear valued at P141,024,000, 30 sacks of footwear accessories worth at least P39 million, an injector machine valued at P2.5 million and three sets of molding machines worth at least P14.250 million.

Three suspects were arrested – a Filipino-Chinese from Manila and two Chinese nationals who are both residents of Bgy. Inaon, Pulilan. They are facing criminal charges.

Meanwhile, another operation in a warehouse located in an industrial park in Bgy. San Pablo Libutad in San Simon, Pampanga resulted in the confiscation of nearly P5.5 million worth of fake footwear.

Confiscated were assorted business documents, hundreds of pairs of counterfeit Crocs slippers in various colors, and a molding machine used in the production of fake footwear.

The recovered pieces of evidence were worth at least P5.3 million.

According to the CIDG-RFU3 chief, the operations were launched following information from civilian informants.

Investigators established that the raided warehouses were being used for the large-scale production and distribution of fake Crocs, which had been the subject of numerous consumer complaints online due to defective products and features inconsistent with genuine items.

“These illegal activities not only prejudice the consuming public but also damage the registered trademark owner through loss of goodwill, trademark dilution, and economic losses,” Gollod said.

The suspects were brought to CIDG RFU3 office for filing of appropriate charges while the seized items were transported to JOECHEM Environmental Corporation in Bgy. Aranguren, Capas, Tarlac for safekeeping.

The CIDG said it will continue intensifying operations against large-scale counterfeiters to protect consumers and uphold intellectual property rights in the country.