By Ferdinand Patinio

FAKE ITEMS. Some of the counterfeit Guess bags seized during a Bureau of Customs (BOC) operation in Divisoria, Manila on May 23, 2025. From January to April, the bureau had seized PHP15.8 billion worth of counterfeit products, according to Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio on Tuesday (June 3). (Photo courtesy of BOC)

MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized close to PHP16 billion worth of counterfeit items during the first four months of the year.

In a statement on Tuesday, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said that as of April, the bureau has seized PHP15.8 billion worth of counterfeit goods in coordination with brand representatives and partner enforcement agencies.

“Protecting the intellectual property rights of innovators and brand owners remains central to our overarching objective of cultivating a fair, secure, and dynamic trade environment,” he said.

Rubio vowed to amplify the BOC’s efforts in the coming years “to ensure that intellectual property rights protection remains a central element of our economic and trade policy development plan.”

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines in late April recognized the BOC for its efforts in intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement.

The BOC received a citation for attaining the highest number of seizures in the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) in 2024 during the Gawad Yamang Isip Awards 2025 held on April 25.

In 2024, the BOC recorded PHP34.698 billion in seizures, making it the leading contributor to the overall confiscation of IPR-infringing goods. The amount represented 85 percent of the total PHP40.99 billion seized by NCIPR.

Rubio said the recognition aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision to foster an infringement-free market that is resilient, growth-oriented, and capable of inspiring greater investment and consumer trust. (PNA)