P2-M fake Samsung gadgets seized

South Korea’s Samsung Electronics on Thursday, May 30, 2013, unveiled a slimmed down version of its flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone (in photo) as the company looks to tap the mid-range market. AP FILE PHOTO

Authorities seized more than 10,000 counterfeit Samsung cell phones, tablets and accessories worth millions of pesos during a raid on two establishments in Manila the other day.

The operation was conducted by the Manila Police District’s Intelligence Operation Unit (DPIOU) based on search warrants obtained by Samsung Philippines.

Issued by presiding Judge Ranielda Estacio-Montesa of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46, one of the warrants was for Luiza Hizon Dispo and her Ludiz General Merchandise which had two stalls in the Odeon Terminal Mall at the corner of Rizal Avenue and C.M. Recto Avenue in Sta. Cruz.

The second warrant was for Philip Ong, So Tian Su, Irene Ong, Tiu Sau Ling Chan and Gloria Uy of Sky High Marketing Corp., located on the second, third and fourth floors of the San Diego Building on Carlos Palanca Street in Quiapo.

During the raid at Odeon, the police team found more than 400 fake Samsung gadgets, including S5 and S4 cell phones and Tab 4, Tab 3 and Note 4 tablets. There were also hundreds of counterfeit Samsung accessories such as bluetooth headsets, phone and tablet cases, power banks, memory cards, chargers and battery packs.

Based on their estimate, the police said they seized more than 1,400 items from the two stalls.

At the San Diego Building, the police team confiscated 3,432 Samsung Galaxy 3 tablets with chargers and headphones, 4,178 unlabeled back covers of tablets, 97 Samsung tablets of an unknown model, 123 unbranded tablets, 398 LCD tablets, 387 front covers for tablets, 60 tablet frames, and 60 counterfeit tablet chargers.

Senior Insp. Rosalino Ibay Jr. of the DPIOU, who was among those who led the operation, estimated that the seized goods were worth about P2 million.

“That’s [just] the preliminary estimate because many of the cell phones and tablets seized [were not yet fully] assembled,” he said.

The police also arrested four Chinese nationals and nine Filipinos they found inside the two business establishments.

Although none of the owners named in the warrants were caught during the raid, Ibay said that they could still be charged for violating Republic Act No. 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

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Initially published on April 1, 2015. Updated on October 22, 2023.