-
The Bureau of Customs recently seized counterfeit goods worth P15.8 billion from warehouses in Divisoria
-
Seized items included fake products bearing Guess, Michael Kors, Coach, Louis Vuitton, and Tory Burch trademarks
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized fake merchandise worth an estimated P15.8 billion following a revisit of warehouses in a commercial complex in Divisoria, Manila on May 23.
In partnership with the Guess Group, BOC’s Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service – Intellectual Property Rights Division re-inspected the warehouses where more than 1.727 million units of counterfeit items were confiscated. The goods bore unauthorized versions of trademarks belonging to Guess, Michael Kors, Coach, Louis Vuitton, and Tory Burch. Guess Group legal head in the Philippines, Atty Kristian Nico Acosta was part of the inspection team.
Guess confirmed that a significant number of the items were reproductions of their brand. The operation’s target had been on the company’s internal watchlist and previously flagged by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
Acosta credited BOC’s leadership, particularly under Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and deputy commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy, for adopting technology-driven enforcement, collaborative work with brand owners, and simplified prosecution of counterfeiters.
He warned of the public health and safety risks associated with fake products and their economic damage to legitimate businesses, noting that many counterfeit goods are distributed through both physical stores and online platforms.
Acosta also cited the BOC’s alignment with the 2024 E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding, which includes commitments to proactively remove online infringement posts and pursue legal actions against perpetrators.
Rubio welcomed Guess’s recognition and reiterated BOC’s commitment to fighting counterfeit trade.
“We are serious about our mission to keep counterfeit goods out of the country. This is about protecting the public, supporting legitimate businesses, and ensuring a level playing field in the market,” Rubio said in a statement.
The BOC said it will continue working with brand owners, e-commerce platforms, and law enforcement agencies to uphold consumer protection and ensure fair competition.
READ: Record P41B in counterfeit goods confiscated last year
