Bureau of Customs destroys P500M worth of fake goods

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Manila on Saturday destroyed at least P500 million worth of confiscated fake goods.

In a statement, the BOC said the fake goods were crushed and shredded at the RCU Waste Management Facility in Valenzuela City.

The Customs said the condemnation of the fake items is in line with its commitment to prevent entry and proliferation of counterfeit goods in the country.

The condemnation proceeding was made in accordance with Section 1146 of Republic Act No. 10863 otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), the BOC said.

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 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 BOC said.

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, it said.

The goods were later on forfeited in favor of the government pursuant to Sections 1113 and 118 of the CMTA, it added. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News