Manila cops say they have to be deputized in campaign vs video pirates

Despite the existence of a law prohibiting video piracy, the rampant sale of pirated video compact discs in the Quiapo and Sta. Cruz districts of Manila continues.

The Western Police District has admitted being helpless against video pirates, citing "lack of authority" to go after them.

"We can only charge those selling pirated video compact discs with obstruction. What we need is deputization by the Videogram Regulatory Board so we will have the authority to make the proper arrest and confiscation," said Superintendent Danilo Abarsoza, Sta. Cruz police station commander.

Lacking the proper authority, Abarsoza said that at the moment, his men can only arrest peddlers of pirated pornographic video compact discs.

"It is a different matter with pornographic video. The sale of these kinds of video is illegal," he said.

And while Abarsoza stressed that they are conducting a relentless drive against peddlers of pornographic video compact discs in Quiapo and Sta. Cruz, he admitted having a hard time going after vendors who have adopted a "guerilla" style of selling.

"They wrap the VCDs in blankets and unwrap them when customers are around. When they sense the presence of policemen, the vendors rewrap the discs in the blankets and leave. Sometimes, they just abandon their wares," he said.

Abarsoza said that their relentless drive against vendors of pornographic VCDs have resulted in several arrests and the confiscation of at least 1,000 adult videos.

But despite these, vendors have turned the entire stretch of Gonzalo Puyat street (formerly Raon) and the stretch of Rizal Avenue (formerly Avenida) from Plaza Sta. Cruz to Claro M. Recto Avenue into bustling spots for the rampant sale of adult videos.

This reporter observed the presence of police patrol cars in the area and also uniformed beat policemen, yet their presence did not deter the vendors from their activities.

Pirated VCDs are sold for P35 each while adult video compact discs are sold at P50 each or three discs for P100. Vendors, some of them children, have also been observed selling adult video compact discs to minors.

Vendors who declined to be identified said they pay some policemen P10 per day as "protection." Some vendors added that some policemen leave them alone in exchange for pirated or adult VCDs. The STAR tried but failed to contact Abarsoza regarding the alleged protection racket. – Mike Frialde