Gov't finds fake goods, unregistered businesses at 168 Mall

Authorities apprehended shop owners who were Illegally operating at the 168 Shopping Mall in Divisoria, where it was discovered that fake goods were also being sold.

According to a Tuesday report on "Balitanghali," the Bureau of Customs (BOC) found over P4-billion worth of fake goods such as luggage and shoes.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) also found that several stalls were operating without the necessary papers from the agency.

"'Yun lang, mayroon tayong kaunting pagdududa doon sa pag-i-issue nila regularly ng resibo kasi 'yung resibo nila ay 2014 pa iprinint, hanggang ngayon nasa 80 percent pa lang sila noong series ng resibo nila," said BIR regional director Jethro Sabariaga.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) also found several Chinese nationals who failed to present the proper papers for them to conduct businesses in the mall.

For its part, the management of the 168 Mall said it was cooperating with the government to address concerns over tenants at the mall.

"As much as possible po, pinipilit nating mag-rehistro sila sa BIR, tinutulungan po natin sila," said 168 Mall vice president and head of management Lope Inguito.

"In fact, nagtayo pa nga po kami ng isang section — tenants' tax compliance section," he added. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News