2 city stores closed for Free Trade violations

Two electronic devices stores based in this city were closed Wednesday on orders of City Mayor Dan Neri Lim. The two establishments were cited for violations of the Free Trade Law. According to Regional Director Aster Caberte of the Department of Trade and Industry, one specific infraction that led to the closure of the two stores was their deceptive promotion. The raiding team appraised the store owners that deceptive promotion is a violation of the Free Trade Law of the DTI. A composite team of DTI representatives and the city mayor's office swooped down Wednesday on the AOWA Electronic Phils., Inc. at the Lower Second Level BQ Mall and ATTOP Global Marketing along Gallares St. , this city. Early this year, the DTI closed Aowa's branch at the Island City Mall for the same violation. It has 48 branches nationwide. Its Cebu branch was also closed by the DTI before the ICM outlet was padlocked.

According to the complaints, the two stores engaged in promotional gimmicks by enticing customers to go inside their establishments on the pretext that they win prizes. Once inside, the customers were compelled to buy electronic goods sold by the stores with the amount involved as high as P30,000. The stores were also said to have no DTI permit to cover the promo. In a check with a certain Edgar Geollegue, customer relations officer of AOWA Phils., he said he cannot make any explanation regarding the company side as a result of the closure. He cited at least three reasons, namely, that he has to get a clearance from their legal department; that no higher company official can make any clarification because the store has no office hours on Saturday and any statement arising from the closure will also be cleared from its parent company, the AOWA International. A Japan-based conglomerate, it has 11 branches in as many countries.

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