4 nabbed for selling fake circuit breakers

Police have arrested four people tagged as members of a group behind the distribution of fake circuit breakers in Caloocan City and nearby areas.

Suspects, Fernando Tan, 61; his nephew, Emerson Tan, 31; warehouseman Honesto Bendal, 47, and one Jojo Yang, yielded assorted pieces of fake Koten circuit breakers and Kopez Spring loaded 3G outlets costing some P100,000.

Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., head of the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO), said Miguel Tang, plant manager of Koten Enterprises and Jimmy Basa Ong, plant manager of Kopez Manufacturing Inc. met with him last week to report the proliferation of their fake products in Caloocan City and nearby towns and cities.

After several days of surveillance, Ramos’ men were able to locate the hardware store and warehouse of the elder Tan located at Lot 1 Block 2, Phase 3 and at 75 Phase 3, Barangay 14, Dagat-Dagatan, respectively.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr., of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24, police simultaneously raided the two establishments at 10 a.m., arresting the four suspects and confiscating the fake products.

The raiders were accompanied by Tang, Ong and barangay officials.

Ramos said the elder Tan admitted the products were fake.

"Galing daw sa China ang materials nila. Dito na lang nila pini-peke ang mga circuit breakers at 3G outlets," Ramos said.

An original circuit breakers costs P300 per piece while the fakes are sold by the elder Tan and his cohorts at P50 less.

"Nalulugi ang negosyo ng dalawang kumpanya kaya’t inilapit nila sa amin ang kanilang problema," Ramos told The Star.

Ramos filed a case of violation of Republic Act 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines against the four suspects before the Caloocan City prosecutor’s office.

Assistant City prosecutor Francisco Valbuena set a P10,000 bail against the elder Tan, Bendal and Yang.

Valbuena ordered the release of Tan’s nephew for further investigation. — Non Alquitran