Fake face masks seized from stalls in Divisoria

Authorities on Wednesday seized fake face masks being sold in a mall in Divisoria in Manila.

According to Ivan Mayrina’s report on “24 Oras,” the National Bureau of Investigation Intellectual Property Rights Division served a search warrant on nine stalls following a complaint by the distributor of a face mask made and imported from South Korea.

“‘Yong customer service representative namin received several complaints from our distributors na mayroong ngang kumakalat na fake Coppermasks dito sa 168 Shopping Mall,” Atty. Jose Mari Cas, Coppermask’s lawyer, said.

The NBI said it conducted a test buy a few weeks ago which confirmed the complaint.

“Nag-test buy tayo dito mga two weeks ago noong kinumpirma ng complainant na fake nga itong mga Coppermask na nabili dito, inapply-an natin ng search warrant,” John Ignacio of the NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division said.

Meanwhile, the sellers admitted that the face masks they were selling were fake.

“Alam ko naman (na peke) kasi Divisoria ‘to eh. Peke talaga,” samel Calumba, said.

The customer service relations of the JC Premier International, the distributor of Coppermask in the country, said the fake masks are thinner and do not contain antimicrobial treatment.

“The original consists of copper mismo so malalaman agad natin na it’s different since the look of each. You can see and touch the difference. It’s practically useless (the fake one) so I advise all ng ating mamimili, don’t buy fake Coppermasks,” Laarni Nacion said.

Nacion said the original Coppermask is being sold at P380, while the fake ones were being sold for P180.

The owner of the stalls will face charges for violation of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF,GMA News