In line with the Bureau of Customs (BOC) commitment to prevent the entry and proliferation of counterfeit goods in the country, the Bureau through the Port of Manila (POM) on August 08, 2020, condemned through crushing and shredding at least Php500 million worth of fake goods at the RCU Waste Management Facility in Valenzuela City. The condemnation proceeding was made in accordance with Section 1146 of RA 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
The event was witnessed by POM District Collector Michael Angelo Vargas and was joined by BOC Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla who witnessed the event via zoom . Also in attendance was IPOPHL Deputy Director General Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua. Representatives from the Baranda Law Firm, and brand owners Unilever, Prada and Gucci also monitored the condemnation via the Bureau’s Facebook Live Program.
The condemned goods were previously seized through the joint efforts of the BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Services (ESS) and was made in the exercise of the Commissioner of his visitorial power under Section 224 of the CMTA. The goods were later on forfeited in favor of the government pursuant to Sections 1113 and 118 of the CMTA.
In his statement, District Collector Vargas assured that the Port of Manila shall remain steadfast in its mandate to prevent the entry of prohibited goods into our borders, including fake or IPR infringing goods.  He likewise commended the continuous efforts of the Bureau’s personnel to go against erring importers and brokers.
For his part, Assistant Commissioner Maronilla reiterated the Bureau’s commitment to remain transparent in the performance of its mandate and warned errant importers against attempts to circumvent the country’s intellectual property laws./Stacy Ang
