NBI raids 14 auto shops for allegedly selling fakes

The National Bureau of Investigation is filing charges for violation of the Intellectual Property Rights Law against the owners of the 14 auto shops in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue found to be selling alleged fake products during a raid last Wednesday.

NBI regional director Medardo De Lemos said they are charging the owners of E and G Auto Parts and Ihran Enterprises at Subangdaku, Mandaue City, Empress Auto Supply, Diamond Auto Supply, Pioneer Auto Supply, Startex Parts Center, Great Grace Auto Supply, Dennis Marketing, Prince Luke Auto Supply, Dynamic Auto Parts and Cebu Victory Auto Supply at Leon Kilat Street, Piston Parts at M.C. Briones, Kapitan Auto Parts at Borromeo Street and Young Auto Parts at Osmeña Boulevard for violation of the Republic Act 8293 otherwise known as the intellectual property law.

The said auto shops were simultaneously raided by NBI operatives last Wednesday based on the search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court and were found to be selling alleged fake Bosch electrical auto parts.

De Lemos said there were actually 15 subjects of the raid but one was found negative. According to De Lemos, a representative of the Manila-based firm with sole distributorship rights overall Robert Bosch GmbH products filed a complaint with the NBI more than two months ago over the alleged proliferation of fake products in Cebu.

De Lemos said they have conducted surveillance operations for two months before they finally identified the 15 auto shops and eventually applied for a search warrant in court.

De Lemos however said they have yet to determine the volume of the alleged fake items that they have seized because they are yet to conduct an inventory .