Tarlac raid yields fake printer inks, ribbon cartridges – group
This undated photo taken by React Southeast Asia shows counterfeit printer products.
MANILA, Philippines — A raid at a Tarlac-based company yielded 823 counterfeit bottles of printing inks and 44 fake printer ribbon cartridges, a global non-profit organization fighting counterfeit trade said Friday.
Jonathan Selvasegaram from React Southeast Asia said that an office in Singapore notified Philippine authorities about Tarlac’s alleged sale of bogus goods on a popular online marketplace.
The counterfeit goods were discovered by authorities when they executed a search warrant at Tarlac-based company.
React claimed, however, that other counterfeit printing products had been shipped before the operation began.
“Upon questioning, the staff disclosed that some 20 boxes of counterfeit Epson inks were shipped out to customers weeks before the raid. Counterfeit ink bottles, the report pointed out, were likely imported from China and shipped nationwide,” Selvasegaram said in a statement.
React also noted no official sign of the business name at the company’s premises.
Selvasegaram said that the raid happened in September, but it was only made public Friday after a settlement was reached with the Tarlac-based trading house.
This undated photo taken by React Southeast Asia shows counterfeit printer products.
INQUIRER.net sought clarification from React about the settlement mentioned, but has not received any response.
React supported Epson Philippines’ efforts to stop the spread of imitations.
“The selling of counterfeit products, such as fake Epson ink bottles, has been going on for years, but it had sharply increased – both in occurrence and magnitude – since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when most consumers began making their purchases online,” Selvasegaram said.
Selvasegaram advised online sellers to only offer genuine products and warned consumers against buying fake products online.
“We need everyone’s cooperation to put a stop to this illegal trade that is hurting honest businesses, consumers and the economy in general,” he stressed.
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