12-M pirated CDs destroyed

Over 12 million pieces of pirated audio CDs, VCDs and DVDs were destroyed by the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame yesterday.

VRB chief Ramon "Bong" Revilla said the CDs, which were seized during operations in the last six months, had an estimated value of P1 billion.

Last month, US Assistant Secretary of Commerce William Lash exposed the proliferation of the pirated discs in Greenhills, San Juan. Lash was able to buy pirated copies of recently run movies like "Die Another Day" and "Harry Potter" during a surprise visit to a shopping center in the area.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. said the government is doing its best to stamp out video and music piracy in the country, in response to the American official’s claim that the government has been sleeping on the job.

Lina, Revilla and PNP chief Director Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. were joined by show business personalities, led by TV host German Moreno, during yesterday’s destruction of CDs at the PNP grandstand.

Revilla said the discs destroyed yesterday represented 60 percent of the total volume seized by the VRB in the last six months. The remaining 40 percent are still stored at the VRB warehouse, pending disposition by the courts.

"We cannot do this alone. If there is no demand, there will be no supply," said Revilla, who urged the public not to patronize the pirated CDs being sold at trade centers in Greenhills and Quiapo.

Revilla said his agency has initiated a nationwide "zero piracy" campaign. To symbolize the drive, the seized pirated CDs were dumped at the Camp Crame parade grounds and arranged to form a huge zero.

The discs were brought in by at least 12 trucks. Revilla, assisted by stuntmen, then drove a steam roller over the CDs.

Since he started the campaign, Revilla claimed there has been a 60 percent reduction in the volume of pirated VCDs in the market.

"A lot still remains to be done. Just like the chameleon, piracy has continued to find ways to adapt to situations, and still continues to thrive," he said.

Revilla said the VRB intends to further intensify its efforts in the coming year.

Revilla admitted that the lack of efficient laws to prosecute violators hinders the VRB’s campaign to totally stamp out video piracy.

The VRB chief urged the passage of a law imposing a five-year jail term for video pirates. He also pushed for a "no-bail" policy against violators.