Pirated CDs worth P2M turned over to OMB

The Bureau of Customs in Cebu turned over yesterday to the Optical Media Board pirated compact discs seized on four separate occasions since June at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

OMB chairman Eduardo Manzano led the opening of the contraband at the Bureau of Customs, Port of Mactan, it was witnessed by Cebu District Collector Ricardo Belmonte and Port of Mactan Collector Ernesto Urbano.

Last June 5, 2006, two boxes weighing 52 kilograms of VCDs and labels under the name of John Mariano as consignee were seized by the Intelligence and Enforcement Group.

Ten days later a 21-kilogram box of VCDs was also seized, they were under the name of Janet Lopez as consignee.

On July 31 another 21-kilogram box of VCDs was also seized under the name of Rose Store as consignee.

On August 3 a 22-kilogram box of VCDs was also seized under the name of Oronga Julhambre as consignee.

The entire haul was estimated at 40,000 discs worth P2 million, all of them were on Philippine Airlines domestic flights.

The BOC and the OMB have yet to schedule the destruction of the said discs. - Gregg M. Rubio