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GMA Network
7 hours ago
- Business
- GMA Network
BOC lauded for making 85% of total fake goods seizures in 2024
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday said it has been cited by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) for its efforts in intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement, accounting for 85% of total seizures of fake goods made in 2024. In a news release, the BOC said it was awarded by the IPOPHL the 'IP Citation for Attaining the Highest Number of Seizures' at the Gawad Yamang Isip Awards 2025. The citation was presented during the 191st National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) Regular Meeting last May 26, 2025. The NCIPR is an inter-agency body that formulates and implements plans and policies, as well as strengthen the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the country. The NCIPR is composed of 15 members with the Department of Trade and Industry as chairman and the IPOPHL as vice chairman and secretariat 'This award recognizes our firm resolve to crack down on counterfeit goods,' said Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio. 'IPR protection is crucial to building a fair, secure, and investor-friendly trade environment,' said Rubio. In 2024, the BOC said its seizures of fake goods amounted to P34.698 billion out of the total P40.99 billion recorded by NCIPR. One of the agency's biggest hauls came from Binondo, Manila, where more than P11 billion worth of counterfeit luxury goods were seized in a single operation, according to the Customs. As of end-April 2025, the BOC said it has already confiscated P15.8 billion worth of fake goods, conducted in close coordination with global brand representatives and IPR enforcement partners. 'We are not letting up. We will continue to act decisively against counterfeit trade to protect consumers and legitimate businesses," said Rubio. — Ted Cordero/BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
22-05-2025
- GMA Network
PDEA: 8 informants received cash rewards worth P11.6M
Eight civilian informants received a total of P11,633,843 in cash rewards under the monetary incentive program Operation: Private Eye (OPE), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Thursday. In a statement, PDEA said four informants received P2 million each. One of the informants helped in the seizure of 49,705.20 grams of shabu worth P340 million and the arrest of two suspects during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City, on March 14. Another informant contributed to the confiscation of 39,859.60 grams of shabu worth P272 million and the arrest of a drug personality after a buy-bust operation in Binangonan, Rizal, on March 19. 'In a literal sense, vigilance pays off. Reliable information in exchange for monetary consideration,' PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said. 'Imagine, if more members of the community are vigilant and proactive in combating the drug trade, a vast network of eyes and ears remains at PDEA's disposal. It is definitely a huge boost for us considering our limited manpower,' he added. PDEA said the OPE reward committee, which approves the monetary rewards for the informants, is composed of the agency's key officers as well as members from the business, academe, and religious sectors. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
