The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has issued a warning against logistics firm J&T Express it could be liable for unlawful business practice after a video showing some of its workers mishandling cargoes went viral.
“We will investigate J&T… but the first responsibility of DTI is to ensure the consumer complaints on their purchased products are addressed,” said
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez in a text message to reporters.
But he noted the DTI does not have the jurisdiction to close down J&T’s business although it can recommend the revocation of the company’s business permit to the local government unit where it operates.
That is if it is found violating lawful business practices.
Lopez said at the Laging Handa press conference the DTI will ensure customers who have formally complained of defective products or tampered packages can have their redress by having the merchants repair or replace the damaged product or refund the payment of the transaction.
Lopez said J&T can be liable if the cause of the defect of the product was the mishandling of their parcels.
“The DTI can only impose penalties,” and its Lopez said in a radio interview.
He warned the courier companies with long record of parcel mishandling and tampering can face closure.
Lopez said the DTI has seen complaints on online transactions surge 10 times to 10,000 following the surge of electronic commerce following the community quarantines.
