Gov’t agents raid Roxas City mall, market for pirated DVDs, VCDs

ROXAS CITY, Philippines—Agents from the Optical Media Bureau based in Manila seized about 150 sacks of allegedly pirated DVDs and VCDs during raids on a public market here on Friday.

The agents, led by Manuel Mangubat, OMB chief for investigation and operation division, swooped down on the Gaisano Mall on Arnaldo Boulevard and the city’s premier market, the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center.

Thirteen of 15 stalls in the TATC were forcibly opened after the owners refused to allow the 10-man OMB team and the Roxas police to inspect their stalls.

The raids followed what officials said were two days of surveillance  after they received information that the stores were selling pirated DVDs and VCDs, said Mangubat.