Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation and file charges against two Chinese nationals who own four stalls of beauty products labeled “Manila Province of China.”
“We are requesting that an investigation be conducted on the business operations of EFPBI and, if warranted, cause the filing of criminal complaints against the corporation and its officers and/or incorporation,” said Moreno.
Mayor Isko identified the two Chinese as Zhong Xing and Shi Li Li, who operate stalls in Binondo and Divisoria Mall.
In his letter to NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor, Moreno said that Elegant Fumes Beauty Products Inc. violated (EFBPI) Section 40 (a) and 88 of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, Section 10 of RA 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 and conduct online selling without corresponding permits.
The Mayor also asked the deportation of two Chinese to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Mayor Isko also openly criticized the actions of the two Chinese who he said were insulting to the Philippine sovereignty as a nation.
“Hindi po ito katanggap-tanggap sa akin bilang Pilipino, bilang Manileño. Hindi po natin papayagan ito. Ang Binondo ay bahagi po ng Maynila at ang Maynila ay bahagi ng Pilipinas. Ang Maynila ang kapitolyo ng bansa, hindi po ito probinsya ng China; at ni minsan, hindi ito naging bahagi ng Tsina sa anumang lathalain o kasaysayan na naitala sa panahon natin at pa-nahon ng ninuno natin,” Mayor Isko said.
Also read: Solon: Blacklist Chinese hair product for calling Manila as ‘province of China’
“Hindi natin haha-yaan ang mga superpower na yan na parang tayo ay pinipitik-pitik lang tayo sa mata at binabalewala nila ang soberentiya ng ating bansa at dito pa gagawin sa Maynila,” he added.
Mayor Isko Moreno shut down Thursday the establishments selling Chinese beauty products that labeled Manila as a province of China.
The Mayor immediately took action on information first revealed by PBA Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles and closed down two establishments in Binondo and another at a Divisoria Mall.
Authorities found the two stores in Binondo were already closed, so they just posted closure notices on its roll-up steel doors.
Nograles sent a letter of complaint to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Food and Drug Administration about the Chinese hair care product Ashley Shine Keratin Treatment Deep Repair. At the back of the product is its address, “1st Flr. 707 Ito Cristo St., San Nicolas, Manila Province, P.R. China.”