Three Malaysian ‘pirates’ arrested

Three Malaysians were arrested in Quezon City Tuesday by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for allegedly manufacturing pirated video compact discs (VCDs).

The suspects were identified by NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco as Tai Teck Cheong, Lee Chi Ming and Tan Boon Sim; all temporarily residing at 94-A Scout de Guia St., Quezon City.

According to the NBI, they received information on July 23 from the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) that the Malaysians were engaged in the production of pirated VCDs and were using the house as a factory.

The NBI conducted a test-buy and confirmed the VRB tip. After confirming the report, NBI agents then secured a search warrant from Manila Judge Antonio Eugenio.

At about 3 p.m., combined elements from the NBI, VRB and the Motion Pictures Anti-Film Piracy Council Task Force raided the suspects’ house and arrested the three.

Seized from the Malaysians were 59,700 pieces of assorted pirated VCDs, 20,700 VCD labels, and a VCD stamper, all worth at least P4 million.

The suspects are now detained at the NBI jail for violation of Presidential Decree 1987 (selling videograms without VRB labels). The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office set the bail at P2,000 for each of the suspects.

Meanwhile, 34 people, including three boys and eight women, all believed to be jueteng personnel, were arrested Monday afternoon in three separate raids conducted by the police in Valenzuela City. Police operatives swooped down on the three jueteng dens located at two houses along T. Santiago Street, Barangay Viente Reales and Kabesang Porong, Barangay Punturin, and at 118 Tangke St., Malinta, between 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., police records showed.

The suspects were bet collectors and "revisioners." However, the alleged operators identified as Jojo Tolentino, "Lindang Negra," and Aster Diaz remain at large. Police confiscated cash bets amounting to P2,673, assorted jueteng paraphernalia, a galvanized EUV Tamaraw (DJZ 755), a scooter without licensed plates, and a mountain bike, all allegedly used in transporting bet money and jueteng materials.

A case of violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or Illegal Gambling Law have been filed against the suspects before the Valenzuela City Prosecutor’s Office. – Mike Frialde and Nikko Dizon