Police raid computer stores in Bataan

By Erwin Oliva - INQ7.net

Police have raided two computer shops in Balanga, Bataan found violating intellectual property laws.

Members of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division (CIDC-AFCCD) of the Philippine National Police led the raid on June 27, 2006.

A team of police pounced on Sky Jersey, an establishment located in MDC Bldg. at Capitol Drive in San Jose and Santol Paguia Computer World Plus in Santol Marketing Bldg. in Don Manuel Banzon Ave.

The computer shops were allegedly "hard-loading" or installing unlicensed Autodesk and Microsoft software programs, a report from CIDG chief Jesus Verzosa said.

The report, however, did not indicate if computer equipment and software were confiscated. There were also no details on any arrest made during the raid.

Verzosa said the police will be conducting more raids outside of Metro Manila.

The CIDG-AFCCD is part of the Pilipinas Anti-Piracy Team, a group that also includes members of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Optical Media Board (OMB).

This team is currently heading a government crackdown on computer shop owners and business establishment selling or using unlicensed software