By Bonita Ermac
ILIGAN CITY – The Optical Media Board (OMB), led by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Anselmo B. Adriano, conducted simultaneous raids in stores selling illegal CDs and DVDs at the Barangay Poblacion Market in the Port Area, and at the Pala-o Market here last Monday (March 25) afternoon.
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Adriano said the raids were conducted after OMB was able to validate reports from concerned citizens on the rampant selling, and grand scale piracy of CDs and DVDs here.
The raiding team confiscated about 400 sacks of pirated CDs, DVDs, and accessories in copying movies, including pornographic materials. These were valued at P56 million.
"This is our biggest haul so far,” said Adriano who added that not one person dared to claim ownership of the illegal materials.
It was also found that the establishments had no permit or license issued by the local government, as well as the OMB.
They only had a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) registration, which will be the basis for the filing of cases.
Abdul Usman, one of those accosted for selling the pirated video materials, said he had tried his hand in business after returning from an overseas job.
“Gusto ko sana mag-business kasi ayoko na bumalik abroad. Pero dahil sa nangyari, babalik na lang ako (abroad),” he said.