P250,000 worth of sex toys, porno DVDs destroyed in Manila

At least P250,000 worth of sex toys and pornographic video discs seized in raids in Manila's downtown areas since April were destroyed Thursday. Manila police said the items were seized in raids on Quiapo and Sta. Cruz, radio dzBB's Cecilia Villarosa reported. The destroyed products included P200,000 worth of pornographic digital versatile discs (DVDs), and P50,000 worth of sex toys. Following Thursday's destruction of the seized items, City Hall vowed to continue seizing such items. The raids came amid complaints that pornographic discs and sex toys are being sold in the city's downtown areas. An earlier dzBB report said sex toys continue to be sold in areas like the overpass in Raon and near the Light Rail Transit station in Sta. Cruz. Buhay party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng has filed House Bill 4509 seeking to penalize the sale and production of sex toys in the country. Tieng said the bill aims to curb the supposed "influx" of these "obscene" devices, which he said may lead to the rise of sex-related crimes in the country. He proposed penalties ranging from one-year imprisonment to a fine of P20,000 for violations of the provisions stated in the bill, if it becomes a law. The bill tasks the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Justice to implement the measure once it becomes a law. — KBK, GMA News