Isko Moreno shuts down shops selling cosmetics that tagged Manila as part of China

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Thursday ordered the shutdown of several establishments at the Divisoria Mall for selling beauty products which listed its Manila address as a "province" of China.

“Hindi natin hahayaan ang mga superpower na yan na parang tayo ay pinipitik-pitik lang tayo sa mata at binabale-wala nila ang soberentiya ng ating bansa,” Moreno was quoted on Twitter. 

According to Luisito Santos’ report on Dobol B sa News TV, Manila Business and Licensing Office head Levi Facundo said the establishments were all owned by a company named Elegant Fumes Beauty Products, Inc.

The company sold the hair care product “Ashley Shine Keratin Treatment Deep Repair” that labelled its address in Binondo as a “province of the People’s Republic of China.”

Facundo said Moreno ordered the establishments’ closure for violation of city ordinances.

“Kasi ‘yon ay misinterpretation… ang ating permit ay wala pong Binondo sa China. Ang Binondo po ay nasa maynila. Malaking insulto po sa atin ay ‘di tayo papayag,” Facundo said.

He added the city government is yet to determine the name and nationality of the owner of the company.

“Aalamin pa kung dito manufactured… Inaalam pa rin ang pangalan (sa registration) kasi kompanya ang nakalagay,” he said.

Moreover, Facundo said they already coordinated with the mall operator to not allow the establishments to reopen until they coordinated with the city government.

Earlier, PBA party-list Representative Jericho Nograles has called on authorities to investigate and blacklist the Chinese beauty product distributed locally after it labelled its Manila address as a "province" of China. 

Nograles said he had asked the Department of Trade and Industry and the Food and Drug Administration to investigate the matter and urged lawmakers to penalize mislabeling on consumer products.

In 2018, banners bearing the message “Welcome to the Philippines, Province of China” were spotted hanging on several pedestrian overpasses in time for the second anniversary of the Philippines' sweeping victory against China in the arbitration case involving the disputed South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Malacañang had dismissed the incident as a handiwork of opponents of the government, with presidential spokesperson Harry Roque calling them “crazy” and “traitors." -Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News