The Daily TRIBUNE   25th May 2008

NBI confiscates fake Philips products in Binondo raids

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized 13,175 pieces of counterfeit Philips products worth of P263,500 during separate raids in Binondo, Manila recently.

Raided were Martga Commercial and Michelle Lee, of Stalls FUG 69 & 71, ground floor, New Divisoria Mall, Binondo, and Martga Commercial and Michelle Lee on ground floor at 548 Caballeros St., Binondo.

The raids were conducted after the bureau received a complaint from Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. against the establishments for possession of counterfeit cigarettes.

Acting on the complaint, the Intellectual Property Rights Division headed by regional director Elfren Meneses conducted surveillance and test buys.

After verifying the complaints, the NBI agents who were armed with search warrants issued by Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr. of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24 , conducted raids last May 20.

This led to the confiscation of 13,175 pieces of counterfeit Philips products worth P263,500. The owners of the establishments are facing violation of Republic Act 8293, otherwise known as the Trademark Infringement & Unfair Competition Act.

-- Pat C. Santos

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