Aussies join probe of cybersex couple

CEBU, Philippines - Following the American law enforcement agents, the Australian Federal Police is also interested in helping track foreign clients of the cybersex business allegedly run by a couple in Cordova town, Cebu.

Provincial Women’s Commission co-chairwoman Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said that Australian Federal Police is now closely coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation.

Experts from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit of the US-Department of Homeland Security will conduct a digital forensic examination of the computer seized from the couple to find out if Americans were among the couple’s clients.

Magpale said that Australian Federal Police also wants to check if Australians were among the clients.

The couple allegedly used their own children; three sons and three daughters, aged three to 15, and their 16 years old niece, in a cybersex business with foreigners.

Earlier, Deputy Attaché Eric McLoughlin of the ICE Unit during his visit to the Capitol assured that they will prosecute any American found to have been among the couple’s patrons over the Internet.

The ICE was initially only asked to assist in the digital forensic examination but the data obtained will be shared with the ICE so that agents can use it in its own investigation.

McLoughlin, who is based in the US Embassy in Manila, visited the regional office of NBI-7 last Wednesday and met with special investigator Jedida Hife and Assistant Prosecutor Lolita Lomanta who sits with the PWC.

It was the NBI that arrested the couple in their house in Cordova during a raid last June 1 based on a warrant issued by RTC Judge Meinrado Paredes.

The couple is now facing numerous cases for violating a special law against child pornography including child abuse and qualified human trafficking.

With no bail allowed, the two are now at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail while the couple’s six children and niece are now in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. — (FREEMAN)