US expert testifies against Cordova cybersex couple

CEBU, Philippines - A forensic expert from the United States was presented by the prosecution panel yesterday during the hearing of the cybersex case of a couple from Cordova.

Senior Special Agent Matthew J. Swenson of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Iimmigration and Custom Enforcement Cyber Crimes Center presented copies of retrieved documents after he conducted  forensic examination of the computer seized from the couple after their arrest.

Among the documents were electronic copies of the chat by the couple and their foreigner customers.

 The exchange of chat between couple Annalisa and Rolando Padilla and their customer proved that they engaged in cybersex operations using their children age 10, 12 and three, in exchange for money.

 The chat also showed that a one-hour show costs $35 and that the payment must be made through money transfer.

Swenson further said that based on his initial investigation of the documents, the couple started their cybersex operations sometime in May 2010.

Aside from the chat detailing the transactions of the Padilla couple and their foreign customers, Swenson also retrieved images of the children posing infront of the web cam.

The images showed the children wearing bra.

Assisant Provincial Prosecutor  Lolita Lumanta told reporters that it was the first time electronic  documents were presented as evidence against the accused.

Lumanta is grateful for the forensic expert’s free assistance.

Lumanta said that with the help of the expert, she hopes that the accused who used their children for money will be convicted.

 Defense counsels  Lawyer Gia Rodriquez and Liza Patalinghug asked the court to give them time to examine the digital evidence and documents before holding cross- examination.

Assisting Presiding Judge  Silvestre Maamo, Jr. of Branch 55 of Mandaue  Regional Trial Court (RTC)  ordered the resumption of the hearing at 1 p.m. today for Swenson’s cross-examination.

The Padilla couple were arrested in June last year after authorities received a tip from the US Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about their human trafficking activity.

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation, armed with a search warrant issued by Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Executive Judge Meindrado Paredes, conducted the raid inside the residence of the couple where the suspects were caught in the act of exploiting their children.

The couple was charged for violation of Section 4 of Republic Act 9208 or Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

With no bail recommended for their release, the couple is now detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail.  (FREEMAN)