NTC confiscates P40-M smuggled, fake phones

MANILA, Philippines - The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has confiscated at least P40 million worth of smuggled, fake cellphones and cellphone accessories in a Baclaran mall, a television report on Friday said. GMA News reporter Cesar Apolinario said in his report over 24 Oras that the NTC confiscated around 3,000 cellphones and accessories like chargers and batteries that did not go through NTC inspection in a raid in a Baclaran terminal mall. "Walang assurance tayo na ito ba safe gamitin natin dito sa Philippines," said NTC director Delilah Deles, adding that unregistered cellphones do not have NTC stickers. Store owners scrambled to close their vaults and hide their wares while some owners fled the place as the NTC agents stormed through the stalls, said the report. The confiscated cellphones were brought to the NTC headquarters. Store owners will not be able retrieve the cellphones unless they register each phone, it added. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV