CIDG nabs 5 Chinese, Filipino allegedly promoting substandard devices from China

Five Chinese and a Filipino have been nabbed at a warehouse in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City for allegedly repairing and reselling substandard devices from China.

According to a “24 Oras” report by Emil Sumangil on Friday, authorities from the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) performed a raid on the warehouse, which had been discovered to be operational since October 2025.

The warehouse was discovered to have been storing numerous rejected or previous devices from China, which the suspects allegedly resold.

“Nakakuha po tayo ng sari-saring laptop, refurbished laptop, at assorted cellphone na nagkakahalaga ng P12,195,000. Ito’y galing sa China… Mabibili yung mga tablet na ito sa halagang P2,000, mga refurbished laptop at mobile phones na ito sa halagang P2,000 hanggang P5,000,” mentioned CIDG Region 3 Deputy Regional Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Philam Jay Balaqui.

(We discovered a number of laptops, refurbished laptops, and diverse cellphones that quantity to P12,195,000. These are from China… These tablets will be purchased for P2,000, whereas these refurbished laptops and cell phones price P2,000 to P5,000.)

“May nahuli tayong 5 Chinese national. Sila po yung mga nagmamay-ari, mga manager, supervisor, at isang Pilipino kung saan siya naman po sir yung naga-act as translator ng mga Chinese na ito… Magko-coordinate din kami sa Bureau of Immigration para alamin kung ito bang mga Chinese national na ito ay may mga kaukulang papeles,” he added.

(We arrested 5 Chinese nationals. They are the proprietor, supervisor, supervisor, and one Filipino who acted as these Chinese people’ translator… We can even coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration to examine whether or not these Chinese nationals have the suitable paperwork.)

Balaqui shared that the suspects can be repairing the damaged or rejected devices by changing items of the devices with different gadgets, which assured a less expensive worth as a result of a decrease high quality.

“Wala silang permit galing sa NTC, ibig sabihin unang-una hindi sila nagbabayad ng tax. Pangalawa, pag bumili tayo ng ganitong laptop, mga cellphone, wala itong warranty. So kung masisira, kahit nakamura nga tayo hindi naman natin sigurado yung kalidad,” Balaqui mentioned.

(They haven’t any allow from the NTC, which implies that they don’t seem to be paying taxes. Second, if we purchase these sorts of laptops, they haven’t any guarantee. So if it breaks, even when we received it for reasonable, then we’re probably not too positive in regards to the high quality.)

The suspects will face costs for violating the Consumer Act of the Philippines, Unfair Competition Act, and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News