Man nabbed for ‘selling’ fake medical books

CEBU, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a man in an entrapment operation for allegedly selling counterfeit medical books.

William Almacin, 24, was arrested after he allegedly received the payment for the counterfeit books.

Special investigator Jose Andres Salac of Intellectual Property Rights Division of the NBI-Manila said the arrest of Almacin was based on the complaint filed by Raymundo Gonzales.

Gonzales, a supervisor of RBC-Cebu Warehouse of C&E Publishing, Inc., engaged in the publication, printing, and distribution of local textbooks and distribution of foreign allied medicine books, alleged that they received a report that Cebu Nav’s Books and Supplies (CNBS) operating on Ramos Street near Velez Hospital is selling books, which C&E exclusively distributes.

To verify the information, a test buy was conducted.

On July 27, 2018, Gonzales said they ordered a full copy of William’s Obstetrics 25th Edition-McGraw Hill, Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine 19th Edition-McGraw Hill, and Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease 9th Edition-Elsevier from CNBS.

He and Jennica Salibay were informed that their ordered books will be ready for pick up today.

Gonzales said after they got the books they ordered, they were able to confirm the report.

“On its face, the copy purchased from CNBS is patently an infringing copy because it is greatly reduced in size, hard-bound and printed on ordinary bond paper. In stark contrast, the authentic copy being distributed by C&E is bigger in size, soft-bound, in multi-toned print and on glossy high quality paper,” read the complaint-affidavit.

When asked if he knew CNBS is allegedly distributing counterfeit medical books, Almacin was did not answer.

He just said he is a technician of CNBS and his duty is to repair photocopying machines. — MBG (FREEMAN)