ILLEGAL RAIDS
OMB, NBI warn public against fake agents

By Erly C. Garcia

The reported raids on unlicensed computer softwares which panicked all computer shops and establishments in Western Visayas early this week turned out to be illegal as such were not sanctioned by the Optical Media Board OMB, nor the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Speaking over Bombo Radyo Iloilo Thursday night, OMB chairman Edu Manzano clarified that he has not ordered any enforcement operation against pirated computer softwares in any part of Western Visayas yet.

Manzano also clarified that his office has not ordered the NBI to conduct such operation.
Report of massive raids on computer shops and establishments in Iloilo City came out early this week purportedly conducted by OMB and NBI personnel.

The report made owners of establishments having unlicensed computer softwares panic.
However, a check with various police precincts in the city found no police blotter of the reported raids.

Unconfirmed reports say the suspects, claiming to be agents of the OMB and NBI, use a black Toyota Revo as their service vehicle.

They reportedly check on subject establishments then confiscate computer units having unlicensed softwares.

Reports of similar operations also persisted in San Jose, Antique, Roxas City and Negros Occidental.

As such various internet shops termporarily stopped operations for fear of having their computer units confiscated.

Even government offices were affected. There were reports that some government offices hid their computers to avoid the raid.

It was late Wednesday when the provincial government got the confirmation from the OMB and the NBI that the reported raids were not authorized.

Immediately, Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. sent radio message to all municipal mayors warning them of the fake raids.

“We also alerted all the municipal police stations against these unscrupulous individuals posing as OMB and NBI agents,” Tupas said.

NBI regional director Oscar Embido confirmed that he has not authorized any enforcement operation on unlicensed computer softwares.

He said, he has also not received any coordination from their central office relative to such operations.

“Clearly, such operation is fake and illegal, victims should immediately report to us or the nearest police stations,” Embido said.

Manzano, however, explained that his office is conducting a crackdown on pirated computer softwares pursuant to the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines and the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 but it has not reached Iloilo and Western Visayas yet.

He said the fake agents might have taken advantage of the newspaper advertisements they  have posted last month warning users of unlicensed computer softwares to comply with the law within one month.