Police seize P1 million in uncertified phones, accessories

Up to P1 Million worth of cellphones and accessories that were allegedly imported without clearance were seized in a raid at a warehouse in Parañaque.

According to a 24 Oras Weekend report by John Consulta on Saturday, the NCR Police Office received reports that a company was receiving products that had not been approved by the National Telecommunications Commission and had no Import Commodity Clearance.

“Ang info natin is they are being used or binebenta sila sa mga pogo. Any product na walang ICC is bawal ibenta, kasi yun yung matibay natin na basehan na ito ay safe na gamitin," said Police Colonel Jess Mendez of the NCRPO Regional Intelligence Division.

"Pag ganito kasing item na binebenta, ang assumption natin is substandard. Alanganin nating gamitin kasi it might cause harm dun sa gagamit. Ito kasi, there’s no guarantee na ito ay safe. Baka pag ginagamit mo, bigla nalang masunog or bigla nalang pumutok.”

(Our info is that they are being used or sold to pogos. Any product without an ICC cannot be sold because that is our basis that this is safe for use. For an item being sold like this, our assumption is substandard. It’s a bit difficult to use because it might cause harm to the user. For this, there’s no guarantee that this is safe. If you use this, it might suddenly catch fire or explode)

“Inaalam natin yung source neto, kung pano nakapasok ito dito [at] kung san nanggaling. Dumaan ba ito sa kaukulang ahensya na dapat ay chinecheck yung mga pumapasok na ganitong mga gadget?” he added.

(We are looking into the source of this, how this entered the country [and] where it came from. Did this pass by the necessary agencies that should be checking the gadgets entering the country?)

The company will be charged for violation of the Consumer Act.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to said company for comment. — Jiselle Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News