Manila, Philippines – Pirated and smuggled goods may swamp the local market ahead of the Christmas season, as the Bureau of Customs (BoC) unit tasked to monitor fake products is feared to be facing abolition.

The Customs Intellectual Property Unit (IPU), administered by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), is now seen as basically helpless to perform its duties with only a handful of intelligence officers to carry out the anti-piracy campaign.

The IPU’s lack of personnel was a consequence of the recently implemented reshuffle of Customs intelligence officers nationwide.

Intelligence chief Dino Tuason said the revamp resulted in the pull-out of intelligence officers in the IPU, which was created pursuant to Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

“We have nothing against reassignment of personnel but we should be replacing people in offices that are crucial in the organization,” said Tuason in an interview.

Personnel from Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) comprise the Customs IPU. The IPU is under the supervision of the Intellectual Property Office, which is under the Office of the President.

Acting Deputy Commissioner for the Intelligence Group Filomeno Vicencio Jr. earlier ordered the transfer of intelligence officers to their mother units, thus creating a vacuum within the organization.

The recalled intelligence officers in the IPU have not been replaced.

Asked whether the move would in effect result in the abolition of the Customs’ IPU, Tuason said, “virtually, technically. They would be abolishing an office which is created by a special law."