Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) yesterday seized 50 boxes of fake “performance-enhancing drugs” during simultaneous raids on three establishments in the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu.
The NBI acted upon the complaint of ATC Health Corp. whose product, Robust Dietary Food Supplement for Men, was copied and sold in various stores in Cebu.
“The counterfeit drugs are made of wood patty. They are hazardous to health. Using them will destroy your liver,” said Noel Aguilar, a representative of ATC Health Corp.
Raided by the NBI were De Oro Therapeutic Center and Gen. Merchandise located at SM City Cebu, SSS International Beauty Focus Collection Inc. in Colonnade Mall in Cebu City, and SSS International Beauty Focus Collection Inc. in Gaisano Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City.
NBI Head Agent Rennan Augustus Oliva, the team leader in yesterday’s operation, said they will file charges against the owners of the three establishments for violating Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
The owners were identified as Roa Manuel Ayson of De Oro Therapeutic Center and Gen. Merchandise; Daisy Llagoso of SSS International Beauty Focus Collection Inc., and Cornelia Dayday of SSS International Beauty Focus Collection Inc.
“We are conducting a follow-up investigation to find out the distributors of these fake items,” said Oliva in a press conference at the NBI-7 office in Cebu City yesterday afternoon.
A search warrant issued by Judge Ramon Daomilas of the Regional Trial Court Branch 11 was used in the raid.
No one was arrested since the owners were not around during the raids.
NBI-7 Director Ricardo Diaz said similar operations were conducted in Manila three days ago.
Last month, Oliva said the NBI received a complaint from ATC Health Corp., claiming that their products particularly Robust Dietary Food Supplement for Men were proliferating in different stores.
“ATC conducted a test buy and they found out that indeed the products were fake,” he said.
Robust is a food supplement that claims to stimulate a man’s sex drive.
Aguilar said fake Robust tablets don’t have security stickers on their covers and blister packs. He also added that the tablets are brittle.
“We received complaints that some Robust tablets are not effective. We later found out that imitations of our product have proliferated,” he said.