The Philippine National Police (PNP), under the leadership of Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), recovered 80,800 suspected counterfeit rice sacks and arrested two individuals during a law enforcement operation in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The operation was carried out on September 21, 2026, by the CIDG Bulacan Provincial Field Unit, with representatives of the concerned trademark owner and in coordination with local police units, following the issuance of a search warrant for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 8293, or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
Authorities recovered 101 bundles of rice sacks bearing various brands estimated at Php800,000 from a warehouse in Barangay Batia. A Chinese national identified as the warehouse operator and a Filipina employee were arrested during the operation.
Beyond intellectual property concerns, authorities noted that the unauthorized use or reuse of rice sacks bearing legitimate brands may also raise concerns about product quality and consumer safety. Once a rice sack is used for purposes other than its intended and authorized packaging, there is no assurance that the packaging remains suitable for food products or that the quality and integrity of the rice inside can be properly verified. This may expose consumers to health risks and mislead them regarding the product’s source, brand, or quality.
PGen Nartatez emphasized that the PNP’s role in such cases goes beyond seizing unauthorized products, as enforcement efforts also help safeguard legitimate enterprises and protect consumers from potentially harmful or misleading practices.
“We want legitimate businesses to know that the police are there when the law is violated against them. Hindi lang ito tungkol sa mga produktong nasamsam. It is also about protecting lawful enterprises, consumers, and intellectual property rights,” he said.
As of this writing, the arrested individuals are facing the appropriate legal process for alleged violations of provisions of Republic Act No. 8293 concerning unfair competition and copyright or economic rights. The case will be referred to the National Prosecution Service for appropriate action.
The operation is part of the PNP’s broader efforts under its Focused Agenda, particularly Enhanced Managing Police Operations, which strengthens coordinated and intelligence-driven enforcement against criminal activities that affect communities, businesses, and the wider economy.
As the Nation’s Peacekeepers sustain their partnership with government agencies, businesses, and intellectual property rights holders, they remain committed to ensuring that enforcement is firm, lawful, and respectful of due process, consistent with their commitment to a “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.”
