By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A pharmaceutical company held a press conference yesterday to warn the public about the proliferation of fake Koi herbal capsules in Negros Occidental.

According to Atty. Erfe Del Castillo, legal counsel for the manufacturer of Koi herbal products, Health First Wellness Laboratories Inc., they have filed a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order against Interchemex Laboratories and Franzkate Marketing, which is owned by Catherine Cabuga.

The attorney also presented the company’s Food and Drugs Administration proof of product registration showing them as the legitimate manufacturer of the said product.

She said the matter came to their attention after it was discovered the fake products had been distributed across Panay, Negros, Cebu, and other parts of the country since last year.

Del Castillo presented two boxes of Koi herbal capsules, both of which had similar packaging; however, upon close examination, the real capsule was filled with a substance described as powdery with no odor, while the fake product contained a moist substance that emitted an odor. The latter was also said to contain about one-fourth the amount of the real capsule.

The two also differed in color as the real capsule was dark brown and the fake appeared to be light brown.

The lawyer called on local pharmacies carrying Koi capsules sourced from Franzkate Marketing to stop selling them.

She also called on the public to refrain from buying Koi capsules until the matter is settled.

Aside from the injunction, Del Castillo said her clients are seeking P1 million in losses and P500,000 for exemplary damages.

Meanwhile, in a civil case, Health First Wellness Laboratories Inc. owner Francis Rey Cabuga is seeking an additional P1 million for moral and exemplary damages. They are also demanding P200,000 in legal fees and a P5,000 appearance fee for every hearing./DGB, WDJ