Sellers of porn DVDs return to Quiapo, Sta. Cruz

MANILA, Philippines - Vendors of pornographic digital video discs (DVDs) have returned in force to the streets of Quiapo and Sta. Cruz in Manila several months after police conducted anti-smut raids.

Concerned Manila residents suspect that unscrupulous police officers are protecting the vendors.

In an interview with The STAR, parents said vendors are displaying the pornographic DVDs in full view of students. Three porn DVDs can be had for P100.

A police source told The STAR that a certain Lina, tagged as the “Queen of Porn DVDs,” is the source of the banned films and she employs several vendors along Raon and Sales streets in Quiapo and Avenida in Sta. Cruz. Lina reportedly shells out P100,000 a week to Quiapo and Sta. Cruz policemen in exchange for the unhampered sale of their DVDs.

The STAR saw vendors of the banned DVDs openly selling their wares several meters away from the Sta. Cruz police station.

Several months back, police waged a drive against pornographic DVDs by seizing the banned items in the streets and hauling the vendors to jail.

The STAR tried to get the reaction of Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Ernesto Tendero Jr. but was told that he was on an urgent conference. – Nestor Etolle