Manila, June 3 -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized close to PHP16 billion worth of counterfeit items during the first four months of the year.

In a statement on Tuesday, BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said that as of April, the bureau has seized PHP15.8 billion worth of counterfeit goods in coordination with brand representatives and partner enforcement agencies.

"Protecting the intellectual property rights of innovators and brand owners remains central to our overarching objective of cultivating a fair, secure, and dynamic trade environment," he said.

Rubio vowed to amplify the BOC's efforts in the coming years "to ensure that intellectual property rights protection remains a central element of our economic and trade policy d...