CEBU, Philippines - Three minors were rescued and three other women were arrested during a raid of an alleged ‘cybersex’ den in Barangay Cogon, Cordova town yesterday afternoon.
This is the second time in the past two months that authorities have made arrests in relation to such crime.
Yesterday’s raid was done by the Provincial Intelligence Branch headed by Supt. Rodolfo Albotra.
Three married women, including the mother of one of the victims, were arrested while the three minors were brought to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The subject of the warrant was not around during the operation while the caretaker was able to elude arrest.
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 or RA 9208 disallows media outfits to name those who are arrested as well as the victims.
The raid was conducted by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Simeon Dumdum Jr. of the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Cebu City for the violation of Sections 4, 6 and 10 of RA 9208.
During the search, the operatives confiscated one computer central processing unit (CPU), a modem, a Wimax antenna, a computer monitor, a webcam, mouse, keyboard, earphone, an application form for a payment transaction, a set of school uniform, a dark blue skirt, a green blouse, and a red brassiere.
Albotra said they caught the victims aged 9, 12, and 17 in plain view naked and in front of the web camera.
“They are really caught on the act by the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) and the operatives performing lewd performances,” Albotra said.
When the operatives arrived, the windows of the house were allegedly covered with cloth while the doors were locked.
Police Officer 2 Roderick Balili tried to knock, but when the suspects refused to open the door, Albotra said, they forcibly opened it.
A computer table was used to block the door while the victims and the suspects scampered towards different directions.
Since the police could not just barge into the house due to the minors involved, this also allowed the caretaker to flee.
The grandmother of the 9-year-old victim and mother of the 31-year-old suspect said that all she knew her grandchild was in school while her daughter was answering “the call of nature” nearby.
“Wala gyud intawn koy kalibutan ana kay wala ra man pud sila’y gisulti,” she said.
The grandmother of the 12-year-old victim also said that the girl left the house of her parents in Alaska, Barangay Mambaling and lived with her but the child also did not tell her anything.
Chief Inspector Mark Sucalit, deputy of the PIB, said that victims were paid P200 to P300 per session.
Also present during the arrest were personnel from the DSWD, Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, and the Cordova Police Station.
The victims were taken to the DSWD Home for Girls in Labangon, Cebu City while the suspects are temporarily jailed at the Talisay police stockade.
The three women were brought to Talisay City because it was the only station that had a detention center that could accommodate them.
The DSWD and the WCPD will conduct further investigation to determine the culpability of the parents of the victims ages 12 and 17.
Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said that they have been monitoring all residences with Internet connections. The town has also required the residents to register if they have Internet access.
Sitoy also warned the people of his town, who continue to operate cyber sex dens that the authorities are definitely going after them.
Last June 1, operatives of the NBI in coordination with the United States Department of Homeland Security arrested a couple in the town for selling their minor children in the cybersex market abroad.
The couple was caught in the act of exploiting six minors, including their own children, by making them engage in explicit sexual activities in front of a web camera.
However, both pleaded not guilty of the charges for qualified trafficking, child pornography and child abuse before the sala of RTC Branch 27 Judge Toribio Quiwag.
Cordova Police Deputy Chief, Police Inspector Jonas Tajanlangit told The Freeman that the raid was made after a surveillance conducted at the house.
Tajanlangit said they received reports that there was a cybersex operation in that house.
Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said local officials should be vigilant against the operation of these cyber sex dens.
She said it confirmed previous reports that many operators are targeting small towns like those in Camotes Island.
Aside from Cordova town, there are also reports that such is also being done in the town of Consolacion. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)