BOC-IG info leads to seizure of P49 million ‘fake’ clothing in Mindanao
INFORMATION provided by the Intelligence Group of the Bureau of Customs under Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy, resulted to the confiscation of a container load of suspected counterfeit clothing at the Mindanao Container Terminal Port, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, a sub-port of the Cagayan de Oro collection district.
A belated press statement from the bureau’s Public Information and Assistance Division (PIAD) said the apprehension took place last February 24, 2023, inside the MCT.
CDO District Collector Alexandra Yap-Lumontad immediately issued a ‘PLCO’ (pre-lodgment control order) on receiving the information from the IG.
She added the shipment arrived on February 1 from Bangladesh declared as “garments” with an appraised value of P48.9 million.
After the shipment remained unclaimed for more than two weeks, the BOC decided to open the container in the presence of port officials, representatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Chamber of Customs Brokers, Inc. (CCBI).
Among the items found inside the container are 288 cartons of pants branded as ‘Zara’ and 342 cartons of shirts branded as ‘Guess,’ thus validating the information provided by the IG.
The consignee and the customs broker who were not named in the BOC press release would be liable for violation of R.A. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines in relation to Section 118 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), as the items appeared to be counterfeit.
A bemedaled Philippine Army general and former head of the famous Intelligence Service Group (ISG) of the Philippine Army, the appointment of Uy to the IG last October 20, 2022, made good use not only of his management skills, and intelligence network but also, his familiarity in Mindanao.
His last appointment prior to ending his military career was as commander of the 6th Infantry Division based in Central Mindanao.
Uy also served as commander of Task Force Zamboanga with distinction that resulted to a resolution being passed by the local government declaring him as an “adopted son” of Zamboanga City.
