Customs broker, businessman face raps for P55-M fake goods

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs (BOC) yesterday filed smuggling charges against a businessman and a customs broker for importation of counterfeit products from China worth P55 million.

Charged before the Department of Justice were Rizaldy Valencia, owner and proprietor of Clurky Trading in Port Area, Manila; and customs broker Elizar Lopez.

Customs Commissioner John Phillip Sevilla said Valencia and Lopez violated the Tariff and Customs Code and Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines by importing fake goods, including apparel, beauty and electronic products.

Valencia and Lopez also face charges for falsifying public documents, a violation of the Revised Penal Code, Sevilla said.

“It is our duty to protect consumers from the harmful effects of fake products. Fake goods are damaging to business and pose a serious threat to public health and safety since these are not subject to safety checks,” he said.

The two suspects allegedly brought into the country three shipping container full of counterfeit shirts, pants and undergarments bearing the brands Levi’s, Adidas and Aeropostale. The vans also contained hair dye, power face mask and paraffin wax, as well as cell phone chargers.

The respondents allegedly failed to declare the other contents of the shipments in their import entry documents.

Last month, the US removed the Philippines from its blacklist of countries that do not properly protect US copyrights and patents, after  the passage and implementation of laws to better protect intellectual property rights.