The Daily Tribune (Philippines) 10th June 2006
Lawmen seize P11.7-M fake NBA products in Binondo raid
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents seized P11.7 million fake
National Basketball Association (NBA) merchandise and sportswear following
a series of raids conducted in Binondo over the weekend.
NBI Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) Chief Jose Justo Yap yesterday
said vendors of the counterfeit merchandise had hoped to “exploit” the situation
because the NBA Finals between Dallas and Miami are currently going on in the
United States.
“Obviously, they were expecting a big windfall from the sale of these items. The
NBA Finals are under way and we know that many Filipinos are just crazy about
basketball,” Yap said.
He noted that several weeks back the NBI seized more than P30 million worth
of fake NBA uniforms while the NBA playoffs were ongoing.
Raided by the NBI were two retail outlets of Naty’s Lingerie Fashion Haus
which is allegedly owned by Naty and Luis Chua and Regie Carabajosa, both
in Binondo.
The NBI said the Chuas’ retail outlets were located at Stalls 14 and 15 and the
stockrooms on the fourth floor of Sogo Plaza, 850 Ilaya St., Binondo.
Found and seized from the four establishments were 11,703 fake NBA caps
and counterfeit “Billabong” brand caps.
But prior to the raids, Yap said the IPRD agents placed the establishments
under surveillance operations and conducted test buys to confirm the evidence
gathered by market research firm Orion Support Inc. (OSI).
After confirming the information from OSI, he said the NBI obtained the
corresponding search warrants from Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24
Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr.
Yap said charges of unfair competition and trademark infringement were filed
against the owners of the raided establishments.
Article written by:
Jun P. Yap
The Daily Tribune (Philippines)