BOC initiates ‘site tour’ of seized P7.4 billion fake goods

Reports that some items have gone missing not true-- Maronilla

On Aug 23, 2021

Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Raniel Ramiro and Bureau of Customs spokesman, Assistant Commissioner for Post Clearance Audit Group Vincent Maronilla, inspects some of the bogus consumer items the bureau seized at several warehouses in Pasay City during a 'site tour' of the premises, August 7, 2021. The two officials then presided a press conference to assure the public that the seized goods, worth more than P7.43 billion, remain intact and secured (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) initiated a ‘site tour’ of the warehouse in Pasay City which it raided late last month to disprove rumor and allegations that portions of the more than P7 billion worth of counterfeit goods it seized had already gone missing thru theft and pilferage.

On hand during the event held last August 7, 2021, were Assistant Commissioner and BOC spokesperson, Atty. Vincent Philip C. Maronilla, Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Raniel T. Ramiro, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Jeoffrey C. Tacio and members of the Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD-IG), which led the raiding team last July 28, 2021 at the Bagong Milenyo, Pasay City.

Also in attendance were Deputy Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary for Consumer Protection Group Ronnel O. Abrenica.

Armed with an ‘LOA’ (Letter of Authority) signed by Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the BOC, assisted by elements from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), conducted the operation which resulted to the confiscation of an assortment of fake consumer items value at P7.43 billion.

It was, to date, the biggest counterfeit goods seizure by the BOC in history spearheaded by the Intelligence Group, as it dwarfed the more than P2 billion worth of fake goods it seized last June 3, 2021, in Baclaran, Parañaque City, by three times over.

“(This) activity was conducted to publicly show the bureau’s largest seizure of counterfeit items to date.

“Amidst claims and concerns that certain items were being taken out of the facility, the BOC assures that the seized counterfeit items remain secured,” Maronilla said.

Maronilla added those laying claim to the merchandize can do so but upon the presentation of documents which will prove they legally imported the products and upon presentation of documents that the products are not fake.

Among the various discovered items bearing known registered marks are: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Vans, Fubu, Tribal, Under Armour, Nike, Adidas, Zara, H&M, Calvin Klein, Old Navy, Guess, Lee, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Havaianas, Freego, Wrangler, Burberry,

Jordan, Gap, Bershka, Macbeth, Puma, Hollister, Reebok, Joe Malone and Bulgari, among others.

The imported counterfeit items were seized for violation of Section 108 (f) of RA 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and RA 8293 otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

The operation marks the BOC’s biggest accomplishment resulting from a single operation to date.