The value of seized counterfeit products reached only PHP18.6 billion in the first nine months of the year, 48 percent lower than the PHP35.2 billion in the same period last year, according to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
IPOPHL Acting Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo said the decline in the first three quarters in the value of seized counterfeit products is not conclusive because the last quarter historically would yield the biggest haul. The agency would be able to give a complete picture and thorough analysis once the last quarter figure comes in.
Fake apparel items comprised majority of the seized items for the three quarters that saw 81 joint operations by the National Committee on Intellectual Property Property (NCIPR) members.
NCIPR members with police powers also conducted 2,380 inspections and 277 search warrants issued.
Among the NCIPR members, the Bureau of Customs contributed the biggest haul with PHP17.207 billion followed by the National Bureau of Investigation with P980.35 million and the Philippine National Police with P456.722 million.
Arevalo also reported that NCIPR members made 113 arrests, 41 complaints, 44 under preliminary investigations, and 21 cases filed.
Meantime, Arevalo said that the NCIPR will be holding an office at the Greenhills Shopping complex by early next year as part of its effort to dive down against the sale of fake products.
Greenhills is still retained in the Notorious Markets List of the US Trade Representative Office. The list is an annual report that identifies specific online and physical markets around the world where substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy is reported to occur.
