P2-M fake, prohibited goods seized in Binondo, Divisoria
Police have seized unlicensed and fake goods in raids in a warehouse and a shop in Manila.
In a report by GMA News' Saleema Refran on Balitanghali on Saturday, the Manila Police District said its operatives seized boxes of fake lighters, baby wipes, mosquito repellents and insecticides, which have been branded as unsafe by the Food and Drug Administration from a warehouse in Binondo district.
In a separate raid in a shop along Juan Luna Street in Divisoria district, policemen also seized a similar prohibited brand of insecticides along with unlicensed grooming products.
The report said the warehouse's owner, Kong Wai Yu, were not at the area when the raid was conducted.
The three Chinese nationals manning the shop in Divisoria, meanwhile, were arrested.
Aside from selling prohibited products, the three Chinese nationals are suspected of illegally entering the country because they could not produce travel documents and their passports.
Senior Inspecdtor Rosalio Ibay Jr., head of the Manila Police District's Police Intelligence Operation Unit, said they smugglers and illegal aliens flood the market with fake products usually during the holidays.
"Eto yung kadalasan nilang maluwag, maluwag lahat ng tao, busy, so hindi alam ng mga consumer natin na ito ay pwedeng harmful sa kalusugan nila," Ibay said.
Ibay said the goods seized during the separate raids are worth at least P2 million.
The owners of the shop in Divisoria were charged with violating Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines. —Rie Takumi/ALG, GMA News