Operatives of the Optical Media Board in Manila seized eight boxes of pirated compact discs and DVDs in Dumaguete City, at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The team swooped down on RM Commercial, owned and operated by Jeff Tan, at Pinili Street, Dumaguete, and confiscated the contraband, on the strength of Inspection Order 121105, issued by Roland Ronnie Ricketts, chairman and chief executive officer of OMB in Manila, for violation of  Republic Act 9239 or the Optical Media Act of 2003.

A salesgirl, however, claimed that the OMB agents also seized items like shoes, mats, children’s wear, and bags from the store. She added that an agent put off the closed circuit television while the items were being gathered.

Some of the agents ordered soft drinks but did not pay for them, and another agent ordered a store employee to buy him cigarets, the salesgirls said, adding they did not see any policeman accompanying the OMB team.

The salesgirls  said they were also surprised because the raid was conducted at about 6 p.m. but was  blottered only after  11 p.m., also on Wednesday. They said the store’s caretaker, Chawa Wu, a Chinese national, was also arrested by OMB agent Arturo Bulic during the raid.

Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino, Dumaguete City police chief, said the OMB merely informed the PNP front desk that an enforcement operation will be conducted in the city, headed by Nerissa Enopia with 20 members, but did not reveal their subject, or request for back-up.*JG

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