NBI seizes P1.8M worth of fake K-Swiss and Vans shoes

Government agents seized some P1.8 million worth of fake “K-Swiss" and “Vans" rubber shoes during a series of raids in Pasay City over the weekend. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the raids stemmed from complaints lodged before it by K-Swiss Inc. and Vans Inc. Raided were two sales outlets and two stockrooms of Roselle S. Quizon Footwear and Ascent Rite Shoe Collection, owned by Stephen Ang (a.k.a. Stephen Who) and Roselle Samonte Quizon, and Jefferson Habin Ocampo. The owners of the raided establishments now face charges of trademark infringement and unfair competition. NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) agents said the retail outlets were at Stalls S-20 and 21 and 15 of the Shoe Center at F.B. Harrison cor. Agtarap Sts., Pasay City. On the other hand, the two stockrooms were located at Unit B-40 and Stall S-59 at the Madrigal Bargain Plaza at F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City. Seized from the raided establishments were 1,192 pairs of counterfeit rubber shoes with the trademarks of “K-Swiss" and “Vans." Days before the raid, the NBI placed the establishments under surveillance and conducted test buys to confirm evidence gathered by market-research firm Orion Support Inc. After the test buys and further surveillance activities, the NBI obtained search warrants from Manila Regional Trial Court judge Antonio Eugenio Jr.-GMANEWS.TV