NBI seizes fake aircon parts

The National Bureau of Investigation has recently raided a trading company in Mandaluyong and seized some P1.1 million worth of fake car airconditioning parts.

In a report, Special Investigator III Glenn Lacaran, of the NBI-Intellectual Property Rights Division, said the bureau agents raided Britches Trading Corp. located at 627 Guerrero St., Mandaluyong City, at around 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The raid was conducted with a search warrant issued by Judge Reynaldo Ros, Executive Judge of Manila RTC Branch 33.

During the raid, the NBI agents seized some 259 pieces of “evaporator coil” with the same general appearance of a known branded product called “Ozone Air.”

An evaporator coil, the NBI said, is a spare part of a vehicle airconditioning unit.

The parts are now being kept at the Security Systems & Allied Services Inc., located at No. 10 Marian Road, San Martin de Porres, East Service, Parañaque City.

The NBI said they are readying charges against the owners and operators of Britches Trading Corp. for violation of RA 8293, Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

The case before the NBI stemmed from a complaint filed by Borders Enterprises, the authorized dealer, and represented by lawyer Raymund Mendoza, of Mendoza Artero & Guerzon Partners & Associates.

Meanwhile, in another case, the NBI raided several stalls in Pasay and Parañaque cities which were selling fake Lee jeans and apparel.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Quisumbing Torres for, and in behalf of client H.D. Lee Co., Inc.

The simultaneous raids were conducted by the NBI on Oct. 23 at stalls S-64 to S-66, 2nd floor, Baclaran Terminal 2, Shopping Center, Taft Ave. Ext., Pasay City; stalls 115 to 116, Galleria Baclaran Shopping Mall, Taft Ave. Ext., Pasay City; Unit 5, Ed & Joe’s Commercial Arcade, located at No. 153 Quirino Ave, Tambo, Parañaque City; and Unit 6, Ed & Joe’s Commercial Arcade, located at No. 153 Quirino Ave., Tambo, Parañaque City.

All the stalls are owned by A. S. Sunves Corp.

The raid was conducted with a search warrant issued by Ros.

During the raid, NBI agents seized some 15 pieces of fake Lee jeans and apparel bearing the unauthorized trademark owned by H.D. Lee Co., Inc. The seized items are worth about P15,000, said the NBI.

Charges of violation of Sections 155 and 168 in relation to Section 170 of RA 8293 (Trademark Infringement and Unfair Competition) are being readied against the owners and operators of the stalls.