Cybersex den owner nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - An alleged owner of a cybersex den was arrested during a raid on an Internet café in Barangay Talipapa, Quezon City Sunday night.

The raid was based on a tip by a worker’s relative, according to police. John Paul Alcantara, said to be the owner of the Internet café, allegedly “hired people and utilized them for pornography and prostitution,” Chief Inspector Cherry Lou Donato of the Quezon City Police District-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit said in an interview.

Alcantara underwent inquest proceedings last Monday for human trafficking charges and bail has been set at P200,000 for his temporary release, Donato said.

Donato led the team of policemen who raided the café Sunday night, during which three male “chatters” were rounded up, including the relative of the tipster.

“Our operation was in response to a complaint filed by a relative of one of those who had been recruited and utilized by that shop… When we arrived there, we immediately noticed their computer screens displaying graphic pornographic videos,” Donato said.

The shop runs a website, www.adultfriendster.com, that, according to Donato, is frequented by online clients from other countries.

The male chatters pose as female prostitutes who lure prospective clients into entering the website, for a fee that will be charged to their credit cards.

According to Donato, Alcantara claimed the café has been operational for only two weeks, and the male chatters have not been compensated except for being allowed to use the computers and Internet connection for free.

Donato noted that the café did not even have a business permit to operate. – Reinir Padua