P10-M pirated DVDs seized in Angeles raid

ANGELES CITY, Philippines   â€“ Agents of the Optical Media Board (OMB) and the city police seized around P10 million worth of pirated DVDs during a raid at the San Nicolas public market in this city on Friday.

Authorities said the raid was triggered by calls from a concerned citizen who pointed to the place where the fake DVDs were being kept before distribution.

Police officers and OMB agents searched a stall at the market and found the DVDs reportedly delivered by a supplier earlier in the week.

The discovery of the contraband prompted policemen to examine the nearby stalls, where they found more pirated DVDs.

The OMB said the raid yielded some 100 sacks of pirated DVDs, estimated to be worth P10 million. Stall owners said selling DVDs was their only means of livelihood.             

OMB chair Ronnie Rickets said he has been urging them to shift to legal means of livelihood as his office will intensify the campaign against optical piracy nationwide.