Police seize pirated CDs, DVDs

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Police operatives here seized thousands of pirated compact discs (CDs), video CDs (VCDs) and digital video discs (DVDs) during their “Pirata Waray” operation.

Northern Samar Police Provincial Office (NSPPO) Institutional Office reported that around 4,764 pieces of assorted pirated discs have been confiscated in 11 establishments since NSPPO and the Catarman Police State started raiding some market stalls and stores in downtown Catarman.

Police Senior Superintendent Isaias Tonog said they will continue to make “unannounced inspections” on business establishments selling bootleg items all over the province until August this year.

He said this in compliance with the memorandum of understanding between Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome and Optical Media Board (OMB) Chief Ronnie Ricketts dated June 13 as a 60-day nationwide campaign against counterfeit optical media items.

On their first day of operations, the police raided 11 stalls and video stores in downtown Catarman along Jacinto, Moore and Del Pilar streets.
The owners were identified by the police as Amer Hassan, Aysa Mula, Contawan Batua, Akil Basser, Bara Trinidad, Sabi Sarip, Osodan Damontel, Motalib Pantal, Aliyodong Makaogis, local trader Lina Lizon and William Go, a Chinese businessman.

According to Tonog, not only Muslim traders but also local and Chinese businessmen are selling pirated video discs that are rampant in seven municipalities in Northern Samar.

All confiscated video items will be turned over to the OMB.

Tonog said they will file charges against the store owners for violations of Republic Act 9239, “An Act Regulating Optical Media, and Reorganizing for the Purpose the Videogram Regulatory Board Providing Penalties thereof and for Other Purposes.”

“We are ordered to file the cases within 48 hours after every raid.” Tonog said.

Tonog added that in 2006 during his previous term as police provincial director, they also raided and filed cases at the Department of Trade and Industry against sellers of pirated CD and VCD items. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)