NBI seizes 66,500 books in QC raids

The National Bureau of Investigation has seized some 66,500 copies of assorted textbooks and laboratory manuals worth P13.3 million for alleged copyright infringement in separate raids in Quezon City last week.

Raided by the NBI were the SIBS Publishing House Inc. located at N.B. Santos Building along Quezon Avenue and the SIBS Publishing House warehouse located at 133-B. Sto. Domingo Avenue, Quezon City.

According to the NBI, the simultaneous raids were conducted following a complaint filed by the Phoenix Publishing House represented by its president, Maria Erlinda Sibal, through their counsel Ferdinand Negre.

Investigation showed that SIBS Publishing House allegedly sold books copyrighted to the name of Phoenix Publishing House.

Acting on the complaint, the NBI conducted a surveillance and a test-buy. After confirming the report, the NBI secured a search warrant from Quezon City Judge Arsenio Magpale.

Last Aug. 24, NBI agents raided the two establishments and seized the high school and elementary textbooks and laboratory manuals.

Charges for copyright infringement are now being prepared by the NBI before the Department of Justice against Carmen Minette Sibal, and Olive Paciko, president and vice president of SIBS Publishing House, respectively.

NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco said the NBI will pursue efforts to protect the intellectual property rights of textbooks publishers.

Wycoco added that the recent actions by the NBI are in-line with the government’s drive against illegally printed textbooks and other school materials sold mostly in second-hand bookshops in Metro Manila. – Mike Frialde