Raid yields over P6-M worth of counterfeit shoes

Three were arrested and approximately P6 million worth of counterfeit shoes were seized by authorities in a residential house inside an exclusive subdivision in Parañaque City. 

The National Bureau of Investigation - National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) raided the house after receiving complaints from a shoe company, according to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday. 

The raid yielded millions of pesos worth of counterfeit shoes with fake receipts. Authorities also found two rooms set up for online live-selling. 

“Nagsasagawa nga sila ng online selling mismo doon sa kanilang area of operation,” said NBI-NCR Assistant Regional Director Joel Tovera.

(They were holding online sales in their area of operation.)

“Gusto nila na madali yung kanilang panlilinlang sa mga consumers dahil ide-deliver lang yung items at walang panahon yung mabebentahan nila na eksaminin ito. Pangalawa, stratehiya na rin nila nito para mahirap silang matunton ng mga otoridad,” Tovera said. 

(They want to deceive their customers because they would deliver the items and the customers won’t have time to examine what they purchased. It is also their strategy so they won’t be traced by authorities.)

“Napakalaking kawalan ito sa ating pamahalaan dahil di sila nagbabayad ng buwis at pati sa parte ng may-ari ng brand, malaki ang ikinalulugi nila,” he added. 

(This is such a big loss for the government because they don’t pay taxes. The brand owner also suffered losses.)

The arrested suspects, meanwhile, will face charges for violating the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Authorities have yet to identify the homeowner. — Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA Integrated News