Authorities seize P473M worth of fake goods in Q1

About P472.61 million worth of counterfeit goods were confiscated across 43 operations led by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as of end-March, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said on Wednesday.

The operations led to the arrest of 56 individuals, with 31 undergoing preliminary investigation, according to a document obtained by reporters.

However, the report has yet to include data from other agencies, such as the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Customs, and the Food and Drug Administration.

In 2025, the agency seized a total of P29.97 billion worth of counterfeit goods, a 27% drop from the P40.99 billion goods seized in 2024.

As of December 2025, the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights has recorded 284 arrests and has received 64 complaints.

It also noted that 134 cases are under preliminary investigation, while 3,871 cases have been filed.

Meanwhile, the IPOPHL said that it expects more firms in the automotive and cosmetics industries to sign its E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the protection of IP rights online.

The MoU seeks to establish a Code of Practice/Conduct to address the proliferation of counterfeit and pirated goods sold online.

IPOPHL, which has onboarded 118 signatories for the MoU, is aiming to reach 200 this year.

The agency also said it is pushing for the passage of a measure that will provide protected Geographical Indications (GI) for local products to better support local industries and eco-tourism.

A GI is an indication that identifies goods originating from a specific place to protect authenticity while avoiding misuse and unfair competition.

“Some localities have products that are only found in their area because it is a product-based type of environment,” IPOPHL Acting Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo told reporters on Tuesday. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz