By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Tuesday its operatives arrested a Chinese national for trading around PHP2 million worth of alleged illicit cigarettes during an operation in Malabon City.
In a statement, CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the suspect, identified as Ziqiang, was arrested for selling cigarettes without authorization from the trademark owner at Orange Road in Potrero on May 23.
He said the operation was part of the efforts to run after those engaged in the manufacture and trade of counterfeited items and illicit trading of tobacco products across the country.
Seized were 33 master cases of alleged counterfeit and trademark infringing Marlboro Gold Nise and Luxury cigarettes worth around PHP2 million.
“This underscores our unrelenting fight against counterfeited products and violations of Intellectual Property Code,” Torre said.
The suspect was already charged with violation of Section 155 (Trademark Infringement) and Section 168 (Unfair Trade Competition); in relation to Section 170 of Republic Act No. 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines) for selling and trading trademark-infringing cigarettes.
In related development, Torre said CIDG Camarines Sur Provincial Field Unit, together with Pamplona Municipal Police Station, conducted operations against “paihi” or illegal trading of petroleum products in Brgy. Tambo, Pamplona, Camarines Sur on May 22.
The operatives arrested the fuel truck tanker’s driver, identified as Levi, and a certain Danny, a businessman.
Authorities seized the fuel tanker truck containing 20,000 liters of petroleum products, and 18 plastic containers filled with 20 liters each of “paihi” products worth PHP1 million.
The arrested suspects were charged before the National Prosecution Service with violation of Section 2 (a) BP 33 as amended by Presidential Decree 1865 (An Act Defining and Penalizing Certain Prohibited Acts Inimical to the Public Interest and National Security Involving Petroleum and/or Petroleum Products) for Illegal Trading of Petroleum Products. (PNA)
