Seven cybersex victims saved

CEBU, Philippines - Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided two alleged cybersex dens operated by a Dutch national in Consolacion town Wednesday afternoon resulting to the rescue of seven human trafficking victims including four males.

Senior Inspector Ricky Naron of CIDG said the raid came after they have conducted surveillance operations following tips from a concerned citizen about the alleged illegal activities in the apartments rented by Dutch national Eric Maurice Fons in Barangay Poblacion.

Naron said they have caught one of the female rescued victims on the act of performing lewd show in front of the web camera when they swooped down the apartments at 12:15 in the afternoon last Wednesday.

Among the seven victims that were rescued were four males who were also performing for gay customers.

The CIDG operatives were armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 15 Judge Samuel Malazarte.

The police operatives confiscated five desktop computers with complete accessories, one laptop computer, several sex toys and assorted documents. Fons and the manager, Rauline Villacastin, were not around during the raid.

Naron however said they will file criminal complaints for violation of the Republic Act 9208 otherwise known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act against Fons and Villacastin.

One of the victims told The FREEMAN that she was forced to take on the job because of poverty. All of them were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (FREEMAN)