Philippines News Agency (PNA)  6th May 2008

NBI seizes Php 1.4 million worth of fake Lee jeans during raids in Pasay City

MANILA, May 2 (PNA) – Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized 916 pieces of counterfeit “Lee” jeans worth P 1.4 million simultaneously raids in Pasay City, the bureau reported on Friday.

Raided were stalls D-8 & 10, Sunnyline Shopping Center at 2988 Taft Avenue Extension, Pasay City; First Stockroom, 2nd Floor, U-NEED Shopping Mall, Taft Ave. Extension, Pasay City; Second Stockroom, 2nd Floor, U-NEED Shopping Mall, Taft Ave.; Third Stockroom, 2nd Floor U-NEED Shopping Mall; and Fourth Stockroom, 2nd Floor, U-NEED Shopping Mall.

Regional Director lawyer Elfren Meneses, chief of the Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD), said the raids stemmed from the complaints of HD Lee for violation of Section 155 (trademark infringement) in relation to Section 170 of Republic Act 8293 otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Prior to the raids, the NBI operatives conducted test buys that confirmed the complaint.

Armed with five search warrants issued by Judge Mercedes R. Posada-Lacap, Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15, the NBI operatives conducted simultaneous raids on the five stalls last Monday at 11 a.m.

The operations resulted in the seizure of 916 counterfeit Lee jeans worth Php 1.4 million.

A certain Willy Ong, owner of the raided stalls, are facing charges for violation of Section 155 (trademark infringement) in relation to Section 170 of Republic Act 8293 otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

- (PNA)LOR/jmc/JES

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