In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to eliminate illegal trade and protect Filipino consumers, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in partnership with global brand Guess, continues to ramp up its campaign against counterfeit goods and intellectual property rights (IPR) violations.

On May 23, 2025, the BOC, through its Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service – Intellectual Property Rights Division (CIIS-IPRD), together with Atty. Kristian Nico Acosta, Legal Head of Guess Group in the Philippines, revisited several warehouses in a commercial complex in Divisoria, Manila, where the Bureau had uncovered and seized over 1.727 million pieces of counterfeit products amounting to an estimated P15.8 billion. The fake items included bags, clothes, and accessories illegally using the trademarks of well-known global brands such as Guess, Michael Kors, Coach, Louis Vuitton, and Tory Burch.

Representatives from Guess Group confirmed that a significant portion of the seized goods bore unauthorized reproductions of their brand.

Atty. Acosta expressed deep appreciation to the BOC for its leadership and intensified enforcement efforts.

“I’ve been doing enforcement, especially with the Bureau of Customs, for more than a decade, and under the leadership of Commissioner Rubio, we saw dynamic developments, which involve the utilization of technological tools in pinpointing and tracking counterfeiters, in collaborating with brand owners, and most importantly, a simplified process in prosecuting counterfeiters and illegal importers of counterfeit goods,” Acosta said.

He further warned the public about the health and safety risks, as well as the economic harm, posed by counterfeit products. He urged consumers to avoid buying such fake items, stressing that they undermine legitimate businesses and distort fair competition in the market.

He also noted that the target of the recent operation had long been on Guess’s internal watchlist and had also been flagged by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. The brand’s in-house investigations confirmed that these counterfeiters had been distributing fakes through both physical stores and online platforms, putting consumers and brand reputation at risk.

Atty. Acosta highlighted the significant contributions of Deputy Commissioner Juvymax R. Uy for Intelligence Group, whose leadership has brought about streamlined procedures, the use of advanced technologies in investigations, and full transparency in operations. These efforts, he said, have made BOC’s IPRD a model agency in effective, cross-border IP enforcement.

“The BOC-IPRD’s efficient, tech-driven processes and collaborative spirit with brand owners like Guess show how government and private sector can work hand-in-hand to protect consumers and promote fair competition,” he emphasized.

He also cited BOC’s commitment to the E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024, which calls for proactive enforcement not only in taking down infringing online posts but also in ensuring that those behind them are held accountable through legal action.

Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio welcomed the commendation and reaffirmed BOC’s stance on protecting intellectual property and consumer safety.

“We are serious about our mission to keep counterfeit goods out of the country. This is about protecting the public, supporting legitimate businesses, and ensuring a level playing field in the market,” Rubio said.

The BOC, through its IPRD, pledges to continue working closely with brand owners, e-commerce platforms, and enforcement partners to fight counterfeiting and uphold consumer protection nationwide.

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