PASG seizes fake motor oils in Malabon

The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group operatives have seized from warehouses in Malabon some P50 million worth of assorted used and contaminated industrial and motor oils that are repacked and sold as imported lubricants.

The warehouses of Planet Lubricant/Tribology/Lub Mart, located at the corner of Uranium and Platinum streets in Barangay Tinajeros and on Gov. Pascual Ave. in Barangay Potrero, is owned by a certain Patrick Chua, PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar said.

Villar said the raids “exposed a business malpractice that has long been duping wholesalers-retailers as well as unwary consumers on bogus motor and industrial oil products passed off as imported thru mislabeling that often resulted in mechanical malfunction.” He said he immediately ordered his legal officers to “throw the book at Chua,” noting the businessman “has been raking in huge amount of profit thru illegal importation and switching of original products to sub-standard and mislabeled versions.”

“This is an outright sabotage of the Consumer’s Act of the Philippines (CAP) that leaves wholesalers, retailers and consumers at Chua’s mercy. He (Chua) deserves to be punished,” Villar said.

The twin raids was prompted by complaints from wholesalers-retailers and consumers that Chua’s firm was the source of sub-standard oil products, some of which bearing the brand names Unikema and Motorex Motor Oil.

PASG operatives found inside the warehouses scores of drums of the original products and the processed and used ones that are about to be repacked and relabeled to make it appear they are imported.

 “I would like to put an end on his (Chua) illegal activity. I will also dig deeper into his roll of protectors so the public may know that some corrupt Customs officials are parties to this form of shenanigan,” Villar said.

He said the has ordered a thorough check of various wholesalers and retailers of Chua’s products in Metro Manila so they can help in the eventual prosecution of the Filipino-Chinese businessman.

Villar said it was obvious Chua used his vast connections to perpetrate his illegal activity and promised to dig deeper into this to unmask those Customs personnel behind him.

“Chua will be in a tight fix as charges of violation of the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), CAP, and mislabeling of brand name among others are set to be filed against him,” he said.