THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has joined forces with major proponents of the local film industry for a well coordinated effort against movie piracy.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was forged in Mandaluyong City among the PNP represented by Director General Jesus Verzosa, the National Cinema Association of the Philippines (NCAP) represented by lawyer Rolando Dueñas, the Motion Picture Association represented by Mike Robinson, and the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council (MPAFPC) represented by Dominic Du.
The MOA seeks to adopt simplified guidelines and procedures that will be observed in the conduct of search, seizure, interview, arrest and detention of persons suspected of having committed offenses in violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 10088 or the Anti-Camcording ACT of 2010.
The Agreement also specifies the rules and procedures to be observed by possible witnesses to the acts committed by offenders.
To ensure widest coordination among members of the movie industry, a manual shall be circulated among all members f NCAP and MPAFPC containing, among others, a copy of RA 10088, a copy of the MOA, and the step-by step guidelines and procedures in conducting search, seizure, interview and detention of individuals and confiscated items.
These guidelines were jointly formulated by the PNP, based on its Police Operational Procedures, and by the NCAP based on the procedures employed by its members against illegal camcording in cinemas, and movie houses, Verzosa explained.
To sustain continued operations and further strengthen the partnership among parties involved, periodic workshops and training seminars for PNP personnel and employees of the movie industry will be conducted to enhance the capability of concerned personnel in enforcing provisions of the RA 10088, Verzosa said.
The MOA also provides mechanisms to properly monitor and assess the progress and effectivity of efforts to enforce provisions of the Anti-Camcording ACT of 2010. (VR/Sunnex)