Optical Media Board

The Optical Media Board (OMB, Filipino: Lupon sa Optical Media), formerly known as the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB), is a Philippine government agency that is part of the Office of the President of the Philippines responsible for regulating the production, use and distribution of recording media in the Philippines.

Optical Media Board
Lupon sa Optical Media
Official seal
Agency overview
FormedOctober 5, 1985 (1985-10-05) (as Videogram Regulatory Board)
February 10, 2004 (2004-02-10) (as Optical Media Board)
Preceding agency
  • Videogram Regulatory Board
JurisdictionPhilippines
HeadquartersScout Limbaga, Diliman, Quezon City
Agency executives
Websiteomb.gov.ph

The agency was formed on October 5, 1985 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1987 as the Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB).[2]

On April 17, 2001, the VRB was transferred from the Office of the President to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).[3]

Under Republic Act No. 9239 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on February 10, 2004, the Videogram Regulatory Board was transferred back to the Office of the President and renamed and reorganized as the Optical Media Board (OMB) in response to the increasing popularity of Video CD and DVD players in the country during the early 2000s, and consequently the widespread piracy of optical media such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.[4] It has conducted, and known, for numerous raids on flea market stalls and similar establishments selling bootleg media including pirated CDs, DVDs, hard disk drives, memory cards, USB flash drives, personal computers and central processing units (CPU).[5][6]

2010 Sky High Marketing raid

On May 27, 2010, the OMB initiated a raid on the Sky High Marketing Corporation offices in Quiapo, Manila, arresting three Chinese nationals.[7] Pirated DVDs and VCDs contained in 127 boxes and two sacks were seized, and were brought to the OMB office as evidence.[7] However, later that evening, Chairman Ronnie Ricketts instructed the evidence's pull-out using the raided corporation's own truck, without an approved gate pass.[7][8] No charges were filed against Sky High Marketing.[9]

In August 2014, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the suspension of Ricketts, Executive Director Cyrus Paul Valenzuela, and three other OMB officials for their "neglect of duty".[7] In June 2015, Prosecutor Janet Cabigas-Vejerano formally filed charges of graft against the five officials for their illicit returning of pirated works.[9][10] Valenzuela later denied being part of the pullout, stating that he was included in the case only because of the presumption that he, as executive director, would know about every OMB operation.[8] Despite the indictment, Ricketts continued to serve as chairman of OMB until January 2016, when the Sandiganbayan suspended him and three others (not including Valenzuela) from their positions while their trial is on hold.[11]

On March 15, 2019, Ricketts was found guilty of graft by the Sandiganbayan and sentenced to jail for six to eight years, though he posted a bail bond immediately after the decision.[12] For the other three officials, one was convicted while two were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.[13]

List of chairpersons

References
  1. Esguerra, Darryl John (October 2, 2020). "Ex-Malolos mayor is new OMB chair—Palace". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  2. "Presidential Decree No. 1987, s. 1985". Official Gazette. October 5, 1985. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  3. "Videogram board now under DTI". PhilStar. April 18, 2001. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  4. "Republic Act No. 9239". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. February 10, 2004. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  5. "Anti-piracy group raids companies in Cavite, Laguna". Interaksyon. TV5 Network. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  6. "News". Optical Media Board. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  7. Fernandez, Amanda (September 4, 2014). "Ronnie Ricketts, 4 others suspended for release of seized DVDs". GMA News Online. GMA Network. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  8. Cayabyab, Marc Jason (July 16, 2015). "Rickett's coaccused denies part in alleged pullout of seized items". Inquirer.net. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  9. Cayabyab, Marc Jason (June 25, 2015). "Ronnie Ricketts charged with graft over seized pirated discs". Inquirer.net. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  10. Rappler.com (June 25, 2015). "Graft charges filed vs OMB chief Ronnie Ricketts, 4 others". Rappler. Manila, Philippines: Rappler Inc. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  11. Cargullo, Dona Dominguez (January 29, 2016). "OMB Chair Ronnie Ricketts, 3 iba pa, sinuspinde ng Sandiganbayan". Radyo Inquirer 990AM (in Filipino). Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  12. "Ronnie Ricketts found guilty of graft". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN Corporation. March 15, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  13. Philstar.com (March 15, 2019). "Ronnie Ricketts guilty of graft for release of seized pirated DVDs". Philstar.com. Manila, Philippines: Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  14. "Film pirates still remain the bane of movie industry". Manila Standard. Manila Standard News, Inc. December 24, 1988. p. 17. Retrieved November 1, 2020. Lawyer Bernadette C. Fuentes, chairman [sic] of the Video Regulatory Board...
  15. "Mayor Declares "All Out War" on "Cheaters"". Malaya. July 16, 1994. p. 2. ... Videogram Regulatory Board Chairman Javier D. Carbonell...
  16. "Bagong VRB chairman". Pilipino Star Ngayon. Philstar Global Corp. March 18, 2001. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  17. Office of the Press Secretary (June 17, 2002). "The President's Day: June 17, 2002". Official Gazette. Retrieved November 1, 2020. Also last May 30, the President named former Cavite Governor Jose Marie “Bong Revilla” Bautista as new VRB Chairman...
  18. Arroyo, Gloria Macapagal (February 10, 2004). "Speech of President Arroyo during the signing into law of Republic Act No. 9239 or the Optical Media Act of 2003 [Filipino]". Official Gazette (in Filipino). Retrieved November 1, 2020. Maraming salamat sa Chairman ng Videogram Regulatory Board, na ngayon dahil sa ating bagong batas ay magiging Chairman naman ng Optical Media Regulatory Board, Edu Manzano.
  19. ABS-CBN News (August 20, 2009). "(UPDATE) Edu Manzano resigns as OMB chief". ABS-CBN News. Manila: ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved November 1, 2020. Actor-host Edu Manzano has resigned as chairman of the Optical Media Board (OMB), a Palace official and his talent manager confirmed Thursday.
  20. ABS-CBN News (October 21, 2009). "Ronnie Ricketts is new OMB chief". ABS-CBN News. Manila: ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved November 1, 2020. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced Wednesday the appointment of actor Ronald “Ronnie” Ricketts as the new chairman...
  21. Iglesias, Iza (March 14, 2016). "Adriano is new OMB chairman". The Manila Times. The Manila Times, Publishing Company. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  22. "New OMB chair assumes office". Manila. Philippine News Agency. October 1, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
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