Fake Honda engines destroyed

MANILA, Philippines Customs authorities on Tuesday destroyed 716 fake Honda general purpose engines tallegedly manufactured in China. Present to witness Customs officials ld Commissioner Napoleon Morales destroy the fake Honda products were representatives of Honda Motors Co., and Honda Philippines, Inc. And that was just the ceremonial part. A bigger event held simultaneously held at San Rafael, Bulacan, saw officials destroying 1,831 phony machines, estimated to be worth P24,9 million. These were composed of gasoline engines, gasoline engines with water pump, gasoline marine engines, water pump engines, piston rings, fuel tanks, fan cases, carburetors, and starters.   Morales said the machines were intended for use in agriculture, fishing, and in motorized pedicabs, among others.    Morales said the destruction would serve as the bureau’s warning against the dangers of using counterfeit products, which not only causes loss of revenue but more importantly, this may also pose a great danger on public health and safety.    “Through this activity, we would like to inform the public of the progress of our initiatives in making our country counterfeit-free. Step by step, through partnerships such as this, we will be able to achieve our goal to fully put a stop on the importation of the counterfeit products," he said.   Morales also encouraged other private companies to follow the actions of Honda and avail themselvesof the IPR recordation program of the customs for their copyrights and trademarks, which serves as a continuing complaint against any and all counterfeit and infringing goods. Morales said such complaint is important as it will allow the bureau to seize such counterfeit goods without prior formal complaint lodged by the copyright owners against the shipment.   Meanwhile, data from the Bureau’s Intellectual Property Unit revealed that the bureau has conducted a total of 118 seizures of various counterfeit products with a total estimated value of P2,903,254,945.81 from 2005 to November 2008. – GMANews.TV