BY MINKA TIANGCO
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso asked on Thursday the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the business operations of a Binondo-based establishment that sold products with labels tagging the capital city as a province of China.
“We are requesting that an investigation be conducted on the business operations of EFBPI and if warranted, cause the filing of criminal charges against the corporation and its officers and/or incorporator,” his letter to NBI Director Eric Distor read.
“We are willing to submit relevant documents in our possession which may aid your office in the investigation,” he added.
Domagoso ordered the closure of Elegant Fumes Beauty Products, Inc. (EFBPI), the subject of the investigation, after a beauty product’s label stating Manila is a province of China was traced back to its address at Sto. Cristo Street, Binondo.
The Manila mayor said tagging the Philippine capital as a province of China “is an affront to the sovereignty of the Philippines and an insult to duly constituted authorities.”
The establishment, owned by two Chinese nationals and three Filipinos, was also found to have been violating some existing laws in the country, he said. These are Republic Act (RA) 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, RA 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Act of 2009.
EFBPI was also found to be engaging in online selling without the necessary permits.
Domagoso also wrote to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente seeking the deportation of Chinese nationals Shi Zhong Xing and Shi Li Li, alleged owners of the said establishment.
“Their utter disrespect to the country as shown by the violations of EFBPI should not be countenanced. We cannot let these foreign nationals insult our nation and our people,” he said in his letter.
In his address Thursday night, the local chief executive slammed the mislabeling of the beauty products and stressed that Manila is not and has never been a part of China. He also said Manila and the Philippines each has its own sovereignty.
“Hindi natin hahayaan ang mga superpower na ‘yan na parang tayo ay pinipitik-pitik lang tayo sa mata at binabalewala nila ang soberentiya ng ating bansa (We will not allow these superpowers to keep flicking our eyes and disregarding the sovereignty in the country),” he said.
“Hindi po ako governor ng China. Mayor po ako ng Maynila, Philippines. ‘Yan po ang address ng Maynila. Maynila ay Pilipinas, at ang Pilipinas ay malaya. May sariling soberentiya (I am not a governor of China. I am the mayor of Manila, Philippines. That is the address of Manila. Manila is in the Philippines, and the Philippines is free. It has its own sovereignty),” he added.
Bureau of Permits Director Levi Facundo said they will revoke the Mayor’s permit of the establishment. The FDA is also set to cancel its license to operate.
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles was the first to report that the Ashley Shine Keratin Treatment Deep Repair, a Chinese hair care product, sported the said label.
Nograles also asked the FDA and the Department of Trade and Industry to conduct investigations on the said issue.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque meanwhile brushed off the mislabeling of the Philippine capital and said no one would believe that it is a province of China.
