3 arrested for illegally streaming local TV shows, movies
Police have arrested three information technology experts for online piracy, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Saturday.
The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group nabbed three IT professionals in different locations from July 22 to 30 while inputing, updating, copying, and streaming the copyrighted teleseryes, movies and other programs from giant television networks.
The suspects were identified as Nico Angelo Rempillo of Dayangdang, Naga City; Jim Marcelino Bautista, Brgy Cagay, Roxas City; and Mark Marlon Millendez of Barangay Mintal, Tugbok District, Davao City.
Police Senior Superintendent Edwin Roque, acting director of PNP ACG, said thee IT experts created websites to upload teleseryes, movies and other TV programs and they earn on the number of visits.
Roque said the police operation stemmed from the search warrants issued by Maria Victoria Soriano-Villadolid, Executive Judge, Branch 24, of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).
The warrants were issued due to the complaint of ABS-CBN about websites infringing the copyrighted teleseryes, movies and other TV programs of the network.
READ: ABS-CBN sues 18 online pirates for $12M | ABS-CBN wins $10 million against Internet pirate
ABS-CBN representative Elisha Lawrence, Associate Vice President of Global Anti-Piracy & Content Security and Internet Fraud Watchdog, said the TV network loses millions of dollars of potential revenue from these websites.
“Every day that these continue to operate, is another day of revenue that ABS-CBN loses,” Lawrence said.
“The fact that websites allow viewers to watch ABS-CBN’s TV shows and movies, often where the viewing quality is inferior to ABS-CBN’s top quality viewing experience, the reputation of the company ABS-CBN and the brand itself, is damaged,” she added.
Roque advised the public that “visiting infringing websites could infect computers through malicious software that is imbedded on the videos of this websites.”
“Once the malware is downloaded on the computer, it can get confidential information saved from the computers like contacts, pictures, bank accounts, and can even activate the camera of the computer and the microphone.,” he said.
The police official said the suspects were charged for violation of Section 177 of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines in relation to RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. IDL
