By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested two individuals and seized substandard Apple products worth PHP121.4 million in Parañaque City.
In a statement on Monday, CIDG acting chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz said the suspects “Crissa” and “Charles” were caught in the act of selling assorted Apple products such as iPhone, Apple Watch and accessories without the required clearance from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and registration from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), during the operation in a residential compound in Barangay Tambo on July 19.
This act violates Articles 18 and 50 of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, in relation to Section 2 of NTC Memorandum Circular 08-08-2004A.
The CIDG seized nine boxes of Apple iWatches (225 units), 14 boxes of MagSafe chargers (531 units), 92 boxes of AirPods (4,580 units), including seven boxes of charger adaptors (2,652 units), 37 boxes of charger sets (6,664 units), 18 boxes of iPhone accessories (1,033 units), one box of car chargers (70 units), 10 boxes of charging cords (1,740 units), two boxes of handheld fans (87 units), three boxes of hair dryers (77 units), three boxes of Beats Solo headphones (126 units), one unit of iPhone 16, and one box of earphones (110 units) with estimated market value of PHP121.47 million.
Macapaz commended the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit for their swift and responsive police service that resulted in the arrest of these two suspects and the seizure of these substandard products.
“This underscores our commitment in combatting all crimes and violations of laws. Rest assured that your CIDG is steadfast in enforcing all the laws and dauntless against all violators and criminals. We urge the public to report to CIDG all illegal activities in their localities, and we will do the rest and will act on the difficult task immediately,” Macapaz said. (PNA)
