Some P625,000.00-worth of ukay-ukay were seized by the authorities in the provinces of Cebu and Bataan this month.

According to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the CIDG Cebu Provincial Field Unit and the CIDG Bataan Provincial Field Unit conducted two separate law enforcement operations in Cebu and Bataan.

With the coordination of the territorial police units, the operation resulted in the arrest of three suspects and confiscation of imported secondhand clothings, commonly known as "ukay-ukay."

The CIDG stated that these ukay-ukay are without proper documents and permits from the authorities and are considered illegal.

A report that reached the Acting Director of CIDG, Police Major Gen. Robert Aa Morico II, stated that the CIDG Cebu raid on 11 December at around 5:50 PM yields two female suspects "Angel" and "Elmie" who are both of legal age.

The two were allegedly engaged in trading and selling of undocumented 51 bundles/ sacks of ukay-ukay valued at P325,000.00 at Kings Warehouse in Brgy. Paknaan, Mandaue City, Cebu.

Meanwhile, on 12 December at around 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the CIDG Bataan conducted buy-bust operation at Pleasant Homes St, Brgy San Pedro, Hermosa, Bataan that resulted in the arrest of Arthur, male, 30 years old, for alleged selling 100 bundles/ sacks of ukay-ukay, worth P300,000.00 without authority.

The Director of CIDG emphasized that the state upholds the health and dignity of its citizens by prohibiting the importation of used clothing and rags to the Philippines- except for approved specific relief purposes.

The Republic Act 4653 was enacted to safeguard public health and maintain national dignity by preventing the entry of potentially unsanitary or unhygienic used textiles. He reminded the public that buying “ukay-ukay” may expose them to potential health and hygiene risks.

The three arrested suspects were charged before the National Prosecution Service with violations of Republic Act No. 4653 (An Act to Safeguard the Health of the People and Maintain the Dignity of the Nation by Declaring it a National Policy to Prohibit the Commercial Importation of Textile Articles Commonly Known as Used Clothing and Rags); Republic Act No. 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) in relation of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), respectively.

The CIDG leadership lauds PCOL Grant A Gollod and PCOL Christopher M Bermudez, the Regional Chiefs of CIDG Regional Field Units 3 and 7, respectively; CIDG Tarlac Provincial Field Unit led by PMAJ Alexander D Reyes; and CIDG Cebu Provincial Field Unit headed PLTCOL Bryan 'O Neil C Salvacion for the successful operations.