The Bureau of Customs has seized more than two million pairs of shoes and slippers that copy the design of a well-known brand.
It costs P1.56 billion.
According to BOC spokesperson Assistant Secretary Vincent Maronilla, the agency’s intelligence group received information about such fake footwear stored in a distribution hub near Metro Manila.
Operatives of the BOC immediately visited it under the visitorial powers of the Customs Commissioner.
“(We) went to this area, and we were able to verify, together with the owners, that indeed, the shoes being stored here, which contains the brand, (are) counterfeit,” Maronilla told ABS-CBN News.
It is still being investigated where the shipment of the fake product went and how it got through.
Maronilla said they are also looking into whether some people of the BOC have deficiencies or if there was collusion.
The case against the people allegedly smuggling fake shoes and slippers is also being prepared.
Confiscated footwear will be destroyed, BOC said. The brand owner allows it unless an agency asks them to donate it.
Over 2 million pairs of fake branded footwear seized by Customs
“Una, sa batas kasi, kinakailangan talaga nating sirain ‘yan. Pangalawa, I think that is a strong deterrent also. That’s a strong message that we’re going to give to potential smugglers of contraband that there is really no chance of you getting back itong mga gamit na ito, even through auction process or other means,” he added.
According to the BOC, smuggled fake products should not be consumed, because they do not pay the proper tax, and it is possible that this will cause the business of the copied brand to leave the Philippines.
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines called on the public not to buy fake products.
IPOPHL advises fakes can be detected by checking the three P’s: Price, if sales are too low, should be suspicious. Packaging, if the spelling is incorrect. And product if the quality is low.
The agency also works with product owners to provide other clues to distinguish the original from the fake.
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