Hundreds of used smartphones from Korea worth P15 million were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport recently.
A total of 825 used smartphones shipped from Korea to the Port of NAIA were presented to the media Friday.
According to the Bureau of Customs, the used smartphones bore the popular electronic brand Samsung. Lithium batteries and phone accessories were also part of the shipment.
The items, which were split into two separate shipments, were not covered by any importation permit and would not even have the chance to be permitted as legitimate importation unless it is used for personal purposes and not for commercial use.
The National Telecommunications Commission does not issue permits for the importation of used cellphones and accessories unless the items are intended for personal use or as gifts for relatives.
The BoC said that importing items in large quantities for commercial use or intended for selling is prohibited as it will adversely affect interests of legitimate manufacturers.
Safety of the public and security may also be at risk when using imported used cell phone units not covered by NTC, it added.
“We laud the Bureau of Customs, headed by District Collector Carmelita Talusan, for helping keep the Philippines free of possibly counterfeit products that did not seek proper importation permits and sufficient quality control. We ask the public to remain vigilant when purchasing Samsung devices,” said Marlene Cinco, public relations head of Samsung Philippines Corp.
The Korean firm encouraged the public to patronize legitimate Samsung devices from authorized dealers nationwide. (Betheena Unite)