An Evaluation of Optical Media Board’s Campaign Against the Proliferation and Mass Production of Pirated Optical Media Device

Abstract

Theft or optical media device piracy thrives in this country and the ordinary Filipino allows it. The bureaucracy is too weak to punish small-time thieves. Our country has matured from being a market for pirated goods to being the emerging Silicon Valley of optical disc piracy in this part of the world. Quiapo happens to be seen as the new haven or bulwark of optical disc pirates forced out of China, Macau and Malaysia and authorities have not shown the muscle to rid their territories of the theft industry. A closer look on the disposition and ability potential of law enforcement in Quiapo area revealed the factors behind the ineffective campaign. It was apparent that the lack of personnel, equipment and funding confounded the burden of law enforcement in eradicating piracy in a large area with a continuous growing technology and number of people who patronize cheaper items. It is a no-thank-you job as it is ill-equipped to eradicate piracy but gets all the blame for failure to curb piracy. Therefore, they are not entirely to blame regarding these lapses and rather should be given the chance to implement its big potential by lessening the underlying conditions detrimental to its quality of performance. Strengthening the law enforcement agency can do this. The role of law enforcement is very vital not only in the apprehension and investigation of to ensure that the law itself works. It provides the starting push for the suspects but also the wheel of justice to turn, but if that push started on the wrong footing, say for example the head is really engaged in secret dealings, the turn of the wheel of justice will not sustain.