IPOPHL DG Ric Blancaflor led the Ceremonial Destruction of Counterfeit and pirated goods at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame. [ Photo Gallery 1 ][ Photo Gallery 2 ][ Photo Gallery 3 ]

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), with the concerted efforts of the members of the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR), is serious in its commitment to combat piracy and counterfeiting and instill among the Filipino people the value of respect for intellectual property rights. Members of the task force gathered this morning at Camp Crame, Quezon City for the ceremonial destruction of counterfeit and pirated goods. 

According to IPOPHL Director General Ricardo R. Blancaflor, since the establishment of the NCIPR in the country, an estimated amount of P35,217,820,632.09 counterfeit and pirated goods consisting of 51,695,031 pieces, 60,342.5 boxes and 45 replicating machines were confiscated.  

For the period of January to May 22, 2013, there were a total of 960 reported enforcement operations conducted by the law enforcement agencies under the NCIPR in 986 areas nationwide. Of these activities, 790 were inspections of retail outlets and production areas and 170 were by search warrants.  

Out of the 986 incursions, 17 were conducted in Binondo, 5 in Quiapo, 1 in Greenhills and 1 in Metrowalk.  

The counterfeit items seized for the combined enforcement operations, resulted in the confiscation of 3,495,264 pieces of counterfeit and pirated goods that yield to an estimated total value of P1,576,060,602.00.  

Blancaflor assured the public that the NCIPR will continue its quest to address the worldwide problem recognizing the fact that the brand owners are not the only ones affected.  

‘Piracy affects not just our brand owners but also our government in terms of revenue losses aside from spending to run after infringers. The IPOPHL is also working hard to attend to the multiple challenges associated with combating counterfeiting and piracy,’ Blancaflor said. 

Based on records, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) tops all IP enforcement agencies confiscating P793,199,200.00 worth of fake goods. Seizures recorded by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) was accounted as the second largest share amounting to P471,200,000.00. Counterfeit items confiscated by the Optical Media Board (OMB) were valued at P310,957,400.00.  

The ceremonial destruction was also attended by IPOPHL Deputy Director General Allan Gepty who is overseeing the inter-agency task force. 

DDG Gepty said that piracy and counterfeiting affects consumers because they can bring danger to their safety and harm to their health. 

Meanwhile, for 2013, IPOPHL was able to forged partnerships with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to undertake collaborative efforts to neutralize the proliferation of counterfeit and pirated items in the market. 

DTI agrees to apply the relevant provisions of the Business Name Law of 2010 and its IRR, and the Uniform Rules of Procedure for Administrative Cases filed with DTI under Department Administrative Order No. 07, Series of 2006 in the cancellation of business name registration of mall/store owners found to be violating intellectual property rights. 

BIR will subject IPR violators to tax investigation, and probably tax evasion charges. 

Members of the NCIPR include the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Optical Media Board (OMB), Philippine National Police (PNP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), National Book Development Board (NBDB), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of the Special Envoy on Transnational Crime (OSETC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). 

The NCIPR vows to focus on combating counterfeiting and piracy as it looks forward to a successful 3^rd Philippine Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit which will be held in October 2013 during the IPR Week celebration.