SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Smuggling in this freeport will be thwarted during the term of current Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator Jonathan D. Tan.
Thus, stated a press release the SBMA issued after Tan and Bureau of Customs–Port of Subic district collector Atty. Carmelita Talusan conducted an inspection of counterfeit goods worth P240 million in a warehouse in the freeport on July 18.
Tan cited President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as having mandated him to look into the smuggling of goods inside the freeport, noting that the apprehension of the shipment of counterfeit goods is through the collaboration between his agency and the BOC-Port of Subic.
“The cooperation between the SBMA and BOC Port of Subic will definitely yield positive results following the mandate that the President has given me. By working together, our agencies will certainly provide a more secure Subic Bay Freeport Zone that is free from smuggling,” Tan said.
The two officials inspected the shipment of counterfeit goods at a warehouse wherein 1,269 cartons of misdeclared T-shirts were found, including well-known fashion brands Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Under Armour, Lacoste, GAP, Nike, Zara, Reebok, and others. Talusan said the estimated value of the two shipments totaled P240 million.
According to Talusan, the cargoes arrived on June 14 from its port of origin in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She added that they conducted the examination on June 26 on the shipments consigned to Bonne Volonte Consumer Goods.
The BOC official said the shipment violates Section 155 of RA No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, relative to Section 1113(f) of RA No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).
Talusan also disclosed that some of the brand owners who provided certificates of counterfeit goods include Emerald Garment Manufacturing Corp. (makers of RRJ, Stylistic and Mr. Lee), and Federis & Associates Law Offices for Uniqlo and Cotton On.
Tan said the SBMA will provide any assistance necessary to the BOC Port of Subic to ensure that smuggled goods would be confiscated before entering other Philippine territories. Press release
