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Friday, February 04, 2005
Video center padlocked for showing sex films
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO CITY -- A video center found engaging in the illegal business of renting out pornographic VCDs (video compact discs) and tapes, even to minors, was padlocked Thursday.
Closed by the Business Bureau of the Office of the City Mayor was Shuri Video Haus on Sta. Ana Ave. for allegedly exhibiting obscene films in enclosed rooms.
The video shop was raided Wednesday noon by a joint team composed of employees of the business bureau and members of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Women's and Children's Concerns Section (WCCS).
The raiders seized an undetermined number of x-rated VCDs and VHS tapes from the video center owned by one Asian John Tamayo.
Bureau chief Erwin Alparaque said the establishment has been granted a business permit to operate a video rental only.
Initial investigation by the police showed the video shop has nine closed cubicles on the second floor where couples can view obscene films and do other things.
A member of a television news crew with the raiding team found a woman who had removed her bra and unzipped her pants. She was allegedly viewing an x-rated film with her boyfriend.
The couples are reportedly charged P70 per viewing in a cubicle, which can be locked from the inside.
Alparaque said that, as a result of their operation at the video shop, Tamayo will no longer be issued a permit by the bureau for any business.
Alparaque said that Tamayo will also be charged with violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, which defines immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows.
Tamayo and the shop's cashier, one Joan Gaye Manez, were charged before the City Prosecutor's Office Thursday.
Manez was manning the shop when authorities conducted the raid.
Tamayo, according to women's and children's desk chief Senior Inspector Niegros L. Ragay, is still at large.
Ragay said those found guilty of violating Article 201 will be fined from P6,000 to P12,000 and imprisoned one day to six months and six year.
She, however, lamented that the case is bailable. "Kailangan na nga rin sigurong i-upgrade ang batas natin. Hi-tech na masyado ngayon pero ang batas natin mahina. Sayang ang efforts ng authorities kung madali lang din malulusutan ng violators ang law," Ragay said. (Maybe there is also a need to update our laws. It's already high-tech now but our laws are weak. The efforts of authorities will be wasted if violators can easily escape through the loopholes in the law.)
Ragay also urged the Business Bureau to be very strict in issuing business permits and conduct regular inspections after issuance of a permit.
"If they need people to assist them in conducting inspections, then we are ready to assist them. Nagtataka rin ako kung bakit nakakalusot itong ganitong mga establishments," Ragay said. (I'm wondering why these establishments are issued permits.)
Alparaque said the Bureau has been conducting inspections regularly to establishments issued with business permit.
"In the case of Shuri Video Shop, when we conduct random inspection to the establishment video rental lang ang nakikita namin. We are not aware kasi na meron palang mga private rooms sa taas where private viewings are allowed," Alparaque said.
Alparaque appealed to the public to immediately report to the bureau or the police establishments violating any existing law.
He added they are already conducting surveillance on Internet cafes after the issue on cybersex madness broke out.
The bureau, said Alparaque, has issued business permits to 220 Internet cafes in the city.
(February 4, 2005 issue)
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