Operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD), confiscated counterfeit products during two separate operations, totaling PHP 11.8 million in value.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago stated that the case arose from a complaint filed by Lee Bumgarner Inc. (LBI) on behalf of their clients, the brands Vans and Crocs.
Under Santiago's leadership, search warrants were executed at multiple locations for violations of trademark infringement under Republic Act No. 8293.
The first operation took place on September 16 across six locations in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, and Valenzuela. NBI-NCR and NBI-IPRD operatives seized counterfeit merchandise, specifically footwear and slippers, valued at approximately P3,925,600.
The following day, authorities executed search warrants at four locations in Pasay City, leading to the seizure of counterfeit footwear valued at approximately P7,938,800.00.
In this regard, Santiago urged the public not to support counterfeit products.
