30,000 pirated discs destroyed in Manila

MANILA -- Thousands of confiscated discs in Manila were destroyed by authorities on Tuesday as part of the City Government's campaign against piracy.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim led the shredding of the 30,000 pirated discs, saying these products threaten the country's film industry as they infringe the intellectual property rights of those in the entertainment business.

"Instead of going to cinemas, people will just buy (pirated discs) since they are inexpensive, just about P20," Lim said.

Manila city councilor Lou Veloso, who is also an actor, claimed that the country's film industry has greatly suffered due to the decreasing number of moviegoers who just resort to the cheap pirated materials.

"We were then making 200 films every year. Perhaps today we are just producing 50 movies within a year because of piracy," said Veloso.

Authorities also destroyed 28 video karera machines on Tuesday while charges were filed against their operators and owners. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)