P20 million pirated discs confiscated; traders warned

By Redjie Melvic Cawis

BAGUIO CITY—Traders of pirated discs in the city were warned to stop selling illegal, counterfeit contrabands or charges will be filed against them. 

Optical Media Board officials aired this, saying they are set to file criminal cases against traders as provided under  Republic Act 9239 or the Anti-Piracy Law.

At least a hundred sacks of pirated discs including television sets were destroyed in front of the Baguio City Hall last week in government drive against piracy.

The pirated discs were confiscated in business establishments, stalls, stores and sidewalks in the city and La Trinidad, Benguet by the Optical Media Board, National Bureau of Investigation and police.

More than P20 million worth of pirated discs were confiscated to include   DVDs, VCDs and CDs since April.

According to NBI-Cordillera Regional Director Constantino Joson, they are targeting wholesalers of pirated discs in the city and in La Trinidad since they are the ones supplying   vendors and stalls particularly along establishments in Session Road and Maharlika and other areas in the central business district.

OMB special operations group head Jun Saguirre said dialogues between the government and vendors and traders of pirated discs should be done so the problem will be addressed.