Policemen raid cyberporn den

CEBU, Philippines - The PNP Anti Cybercrime Group-7 raided a company allegedly involved in cyberpornography fronting as a call center in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, around 2 p.m. last Saturday afternoon.

ACG-7 chief Senior Insp. Michael Vertudazo said they arrested the female owner and the male manager of the call center and rescued 13 individuals, seven of them women.

He said that they conducted surveillance on the operations of the call center after they received reports it was engaging in cyberpornography.

The company would reportedly recruit women who they refer to as models and their photos would be posted in a website operated by the owner. The website is a dating site catering mostly to foreigners.   

"Ilang modus mag-recruit na sila'g lady models unya i-post na ilang mga pictures sa website kung naay mga foreigners nga mo-chat sa models mopalit sila'g online credits," he said.

But he said that the owner employed other people to chat with the foreigners and not the models personally.

These online credits, according to Vertudazo, are not cheap and even the owner told him that these were very expensive.

"Ingon ang tag-iya nga dili ni basta-basta, mahal kaayo kasagaran mga businessman nga mga foreigner ang ilang kliyente," he added.

Most of the "call center's" clients, Vertudazo said, would engage in sexual or nude conversations with the models.

Some clients even proposed marriage to some models and would come to the Philippines to meet the supposed model. The "call center" would arrange for this meeting with the model, but if the model was not available they would arrange to have another person meet with the client.

"Ang model kontakon sa company, kung dili available lain tawo i-present," he said.

Vertudazo also said some of the foreigners would come to the Philippines just to have sex with the models.

"Ang uban ana moari ra para sa sex, pwedi sad sa prostitution," he added.

Seven of the 13 rescued during the operation were women. Vertudazo said that the rescued individuals are now "complaining witnesses" cooperating with the police.

"Ang mga na-rescue nato nahimo na silang complaining witnesses kay cooperative man sila," he said.   

Police seized 35 computer sets and different online equipment during the operation, which was carried out after two months of continuous surveillance.

The suspects are now detained at the Guadalupe Police Station, Vertudazo said they will face a charge for violation of Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. — /BRP (FREEMAN)