GMA witnesses destruction of pirated CDs worth P80M

Pirated audio and video discs worth about P80 million were destroyed at Camp Crame in Quezon City yesterday afternoon.

Watching a steamroller crush 1.5 million video compact discs, compact discs and digital video discs were President Arroyo, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) Chairman Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

Mrs. Arroyo commended Revilla for doing a good job in seizing the pirated discs.

This is Revilla’s second big haul since he assumed office a few months ago as VRB chief.

The first was a big raid in Quiapo, Manila, the source of many pirated video and audio discs.

Revilla warned the six big manufacturers of pirated audio and video discs to be ready for him as he would wipe them out.

"I have been criticized for being overacting and politicking," he said. "But I vow to do my job and do it well... Be ready as I would wipe you out."

Revilla also thanked Mrs. Arroyo for her support for the Philippine movie industry, as well as movie stunt men and non-government organizations for helping fight video and audio disc pirates.

Ebdane said the video and audio discs were seized from vendors in Manila, Novaliches in Quezon City, and the cities of Valenzuela, Parañaque, and Muntinlupa and other parts of Metro Manila.

"This symbolic ceremony means more than destroying the illegal CDs," he said. "We will enforce the full force of the law, with community support. We will stop piracy!"

Director Nestorio Gualberto, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said the PNP and VRB have seized 3.3 million pirated audio and video discs during raids in various parts of the country.

Actress Lani Mercado, Revilla’s wife, who was also at Camp Crame, said she has learned to cope with what she calls "living dangerously for a legal cause" and that she would switch cars "now and then" to avoid danger.

"I stay out of places where VCDs are being sold," she said.

Lani said she never allows her children to go out of the house without somebody accompanying them to make sure that they are safe.

"Although the security in the subdivision where we live is okay, it’s still better to play it safe," she said.

Revilla said Lani and her children don’t have any security yet but that he is planning to request one for them.