ALLEGED SUBSTANDARD APPLIANCES SEIZED IN NUEVA ECIJA BUY-BUST

BY KEVIN GALANG

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — Over P213,000 worth of suspected substandard and non-compliant consumer appliances on Thursday was seized in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in this city.

According to CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 (CIDG-RFU3) chief Col. Grant Gollod, the operation was launched under the Oplan Megashopper drive by the CIDG Nueva Ecija Provincial Field Unit, targeting the sale of consumer products allegedly violating provisions of Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Arrested during the buy-bust at the Alco Mart in Bgy. Sanbermicristi was alias “Marie,” a 24-year-old cashier.

Three alleged owners of the store were not around during the raid and remain at-large. 

Gollod said investigators conducted the sting after receiving information regarding the sale of allegedly substandard, unsafe, misbranded, and non-compliant consumer appliances, including solar lights, speakers, and television sets.

A policeman posing as buyer successfully purchased several items from the store, leading to the arrest of the cashier for alleged violations of Article 10, Article 18, and Title III of the Consumer Act.

Prior to the operation, authorities sought verification from the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) regarding the regulatory status of the products being sold in the store.

The DTI-BPS reportedly confirmed that the Mass Television Set Model LED-M600 is covered by mandatory certification requirements but was allegedly being sold using an expired Philippine Standard (PS) License No. Q-4888.

The said license expired on Oct. 2, 2025.

Probers also discovered that the solar lights and speakers, while not subject to mandatory certification, allegedly lacked proper safety markings, labels, and other compliance requirements under consumer protection regulations.

Confiscated during the operation were two Mass Professional Audio speakers, one Mass LED 32 Smart television unit, buy-bust money consisting of a genuine P1,000 bill and 15 pieces of boodle money, and a sales invoice.

Authorities also seized from the store’s display area 18 units of Mass LED televisions, 104 Mass Professional Audio speakers, and seven LED solar lights.

The total estimated value of the seized items was placed at P213,498.

The arrested cashier was brought to the CIDG Nueva Ecija Provincial Field Unit headquarters for booking and documentation procedures and filing of appropriate charges.