4 more cybersex havens monitored

CEBU, Philippines - Consolacion, Minglanilla, Talisay and Danao Cities are identified as areas for cybersex activities.

Aside from Cordova, two more towns and two cities considered as hub of cybersex dens are now being monitored by the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).

As that developed, criminal cases were filed before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against those involved in the cybsersex den in Cordova recently raided by authorities.

CPPO Director Patrocinio Comendador identified the towns of Consolacion, Minglanilla, Talisay City and Danao City as the other places where cybersex are reported to be rampant.

Last July 12, minors aged 9, 12, and 17 were rescued and three women aged 25, 29, and 31 were arrested by the Provincial Intelligence Branch during a raid in barangay Cogon, Cordova. The owner and the caretaker of the house eluded arrest but the police included them in the filing of criminal cases.

The raid was second for Cordova, the first of which was last month when the National Bureau of Investigation in coordination with the United States Department of Homeland Security arrested a couple for selling their children in the cybersex market abroad.

The couple was caught in the act of making six minors engage in sexual activities in front of a web camera. They had pleaded not guilty during their arraignment for the charges of qualified trafficking, child pornography and child abuse before RTC Branch 27 Judge Toribio Quiwag.

Last April, seven victims of human trafficking were rescued during a police raid inside a suspected cybersex den in Consolacion. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 filed charges for human trafficking against the five persons operating the business. In that raid, police found four men and three women posing half-naked in front of a computer. None of the victims disclosed the identities of the operators. Among the items seized were sex toys, computers and assorted gadgets.

Comendador said the police lack anti-cybercrime operation equipment. But the CPPO will have an information campaign in every barangay. They will coordinate with the Department of the Social Welfare and Development, local officials and religious committees.

As for the suspects in the July 12-raid in Cordova, they are now facing cases for violating laws on anti-trafficking in person, anti-child pornography and anti-child abuse.

Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) lawyer Jo-ann Saniel-Amit said they attached the affidavit of the police and informant in the complaint.

“There was no victim’s affidavit attached in the complaint as they are in the stage of being traumatized. Also, the respondents here are their parents, sister and relatives,” she said.

Superintendent Rodolfo Albotra Jr., chief of the PIB who led the operation, said the victims were caught naked in front of the web camera.

The three rescued minors are in the custody of the DSWD for debriefing and counseling. The recovered pieces of evidence were already turned over to Judge Simeon Dumdum.  (FREEMAN)