NBI raids computer shop in the Philippines pirating ABS-CBN shows

July 22, 2012 - PRLog -- The National Bureau of Investigation’s Computer Crimes Unit (NBI-CCU) recently raided an internet shop and the residence of its operator in San Fernando, La Union province for alleged copyright infringement, specifically copying illegally, recording and uploading online for public viewing mostly TV programs and films from media network ABS-CBN Corporation and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.

Armed with a search warrant, NBI-CCU Unit Head Agent Migdonio Congzon, Jr. led the raid. In an interview with TV Patrol, Congzon said, “We conducted an investigation and surveillance. Based on the surveillance, technical tracing pointed that this operation was located in this area.”

Seized from the shop of Ogie Villamil, registered owner of pirated site “nabimovie.com”, were 12 CPUs, 13 Monitors, 12 audio-video-recorders (AVRs), 14 computer mouse, 12 keyboards, 12 headsets, 1 internet modem, 1 d-link router, 2 external hard drives, 1 network hub, 2 USBs, cables, wires and connectors. The server was found inside one of the computer processing units (CPUs).

The computers in the internet shop were examined by the NBI-CCU agents and were found positive to be loaded with ABS-CBN copyrighted materials, such as episodes of Walang Hanggan, Showtime, Kris TV, 100 Days to Heaven, TV Patrol and others.

NBI-CCU also seized from the house of Villamil 3 AVRs, 2 speakers and 1 power supply. The seized items are now in the office of the NBI-CCU.

Villamil told TV Patrol that he was “just an embedder” and that he just embeds what he gets on his blog. But he also admitted that he used to do this before and that his site accepts advertisements.

Criminal complaints for copyright infringement on behalf of ABS-CBN Corporation and ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. are now being prepared to be filed against Villamil. (ABS-CBN TV Patrol)