More than 800 cellphones without NTC sticker seized

By Grace L. Plata

A TOTAL of 838 cellphones were confiscated by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in separate raids in four city malls Friday afternoon.

In a joint operation, the personnel of NTC along with Task Force Davao and the Regional Mobile Group of the Philippine National Police seized 705 cellphone units from stores in Lachmi Mall, 45 units from shops inside Gaisano Mall of Davao, 100 from those in Victoria Plaza, and 20 in DCLA complex along R. Magsaysay Avenue.

NTC Southern Mindanao Regional Director Delilah Deles, who headed the raiding team, said they confiscated all cellphones without the NTC sticker or logo to protect consumers from danger. Units with logo are those that have been checked using national instrumentation standards for safe use.

The memorandum circular 200204-A of NTC stated that all cellphone retailers are obliged to have permits from NTC to operate aside from the business permit taken from the city of operation. All units to be sold must bear the NTC logo or sticker and all units that do not bear the stamp are considered smuggled therefore illegal.

Deles said if the stall owners want the units back, they have to pay P5,000 per unit and if the store does not have an NTC permit, another fine of P5,000 will be collected.

The confiscated units from the four malls will be stored at the NTC Office.

Friday's raids were the first-ever conducted by NTC in Mindanao. Deles said there will be more but refused to say when.

However, it is business as usual for cellphone retailers after the raid.

According to a shop owner at Lachmi Mall, the cellphone stalls resumed operation after the raiding team left.

It was observed that after Saturday's raid, sales attendants now show clients the NTC seal and let them check the merchandise before selling the unit. Most of the units displayed in the clear cases are also new yet inexpensive ones.

Councilor Pilar Braga, chairman of the committee on energy, transportation and communication, meanwhile expressed approval of the move.

"It is high time that NTC did it because we have a city ordinance regarding the regulated use of cellphones to protect consumers from fake substandard products and stolen cellphones," Braga said.

She added that pawnshops should be monitored as well to protect the consumers.

Source: Sun Star Davao