NBI raid nets P1.3-M fake apparel

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently seized P1.3 million worth of reported imitations of a known clothing line from three outlets of a general merchandise store in Pasay City.

Regional Director Elfren Meneses Jr., of the NBI-Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD), said they confiscated 1,106 pairs of counterfeit Lee Jeans products from three branches of Signal Way General Merchandise/Chen Mei Shan, all located in Pasay City.

Initial investigation showed that the complainant, H.D. Lee Co., asked the NBI-IPRD to verify speculations that the stores sold fake Lee Jeans apparel.

Special Investigator Adjutor Larosa immediately conducted surveillance and test buys to confirm the report. They then secured a search warrant from Manila City Regional Trial Court Branch 33 Executive Judge Reynaldo Ros.

The confiscated items were temporarily stored in an independent warehouse.

Meneses said they are now preparing to charge the store owner and operator with violating provisions of Republic Act 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, particularly on trademark infringement.