More than P54 million worth of alleged counterfeit products bearing known brands have been seized by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during operations in three Metro Manila cities.
In a statement, the NBI said the “counterfeit products” were seized by operatives of the bureau’s Intellectual Property Rights Division (NBI-IPRD) when search warrants were implemented in the cities of Manila, Malabon, and Paranaque.
It said the operations were conducted based on “complaints filed by Quisumbing Torres Attorneys at Law on behalf of their client Oakley, and Lee Bumgarner Inc. (LBI) for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent (YSL).”
During the operations, the NBI said agents of IPRD seized 1,083 pieces of fake Oakley products worth P3,556,500 from AJS Online and Sarigayao Online Store in Paranaque City last May 6.
Last May 7, it said search warrants were enforced against John Elegant Leather Bags and Accessories, M.M. Variety Story, Buyme Bags and Accessories Store, and Azriel Variety Store in Binondo Manila as well as a warehouse in Malabon City. Seized during the operations “were 1,024 pieces of fake Gucci and YSL products worth P51,464,470,” it also said.
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago reminded the public “to refrain from patronizing counterfeit products to give due protection to the rights of intellectual property owners and enhance our economic growth.”
The NBI statement did not state if charges have been filed against the owners and operators of establishments where the alleged counterfeit products were seized.
The owners of the establishments could not be contacted for comment.