Over P18 billion fake goods confiscated

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November 27, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Counterfeit goods seized by the government declined by 47 percent from January to September compared to a year ago, with apparel accounting for the bulk of the total haul, according to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

Data from IPOPHL showed that agencies part of the National Committee on IP Rights (NCIPR) confiscated P18.64 billion worth of counterfeit items in the nine-month period, down from P35.28 billion in the same period last year.

By agency, the Bureau of Customs accounted for the lion’s share of the total haul as of end-September as it seized P17.21 billion worth of counterfeit goods.

The National Bureau of Investigation placed second with P980.36 million, followed by the Philippine National Police with P456.72 million.

Acting IPOPHL director general Nathaniel Arevalo told reporters that apparel had the biggest share in the confiscated items.

He said the NCIPR also received reports of counterfeit anti-rabies vaccines being sold in the regions.

“We are already strategizing on what we will do. And this will be part of the action plan of NCIPR for the next five years,” he said.

He said the NCIPR is looking at proposing amendments in the procurement law as part of the long-term solutions.

“When it comes to the procurement of goods, we need to ensure that it’s legitimate,” he said.

Asked about the drop in the value of the total haul, he said  the NCIPR’s enforcement operations are carried out based on complaints received.

“When it comes to IP, this is still a private offense. Meaning, if there are no complaints or if there is no participation of the IPR owner, we can’t just go there,” he said.

With shopping activity expected to rise during the holiday season, he said the IPOPHL is hopeful that counterfeit items sold in the market will not follow suit.

He also said the IPOPHL is optimistic that Greenhills would be removed from the United States’ Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy report.

Released earlier this year, the report identified  Greenhills Shopping Center as one of the physical markets reportedly engaging in and benefiting from counterfeit goods.

“We’ll help them. We’ll provide them with all the support so they can achieve their objective, their aspiration,” Arevalo said.

Under its roadmap, Greenhills Shopping Center aims to gradually move 100 percent of its merchants away from selling counterfeit items by 2027.

Arevalo said there has also been strong collaboration between the shopping center and the government to achieve this goal.

As part of efforts to fight counterfeiting, he said the NCIPR is set to establish an office in the shopping center by next year.

“Let’s start with Greenhills. If we’re successful, we can replicate it,” he said.