BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS & JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – There could be more cybersex dens operating in this city, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) following the arrest of 17 Chinese nationals for allegedly operating a cybersex den in Jaro district.
Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, ICPO director, said Undersecretary Alexander Ramos of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) recently visited the city.
“He [Ramos] came here all the way from Manila to personally visit the site where the raid was conducted. He assured us that the national offices are coordinating with one another and monitoring the case of the 17 Chinese nationals. This is not a simple cybercrime case,” Coronica said yesterday.
He said Ramos also told them the dismantled cybersex den may have connections with other cybersex dens in other areas.
The CICC has assured support for the ICPO in intensifying the campaign against cybercrime, but Coronica admitted they lack training for cybercrime operations.
“Admittedly we are not that trained as far as cybercrime operations are concerned. We need to upskill our personnel to combat crimes especially those involving the use of computers,” he stressed.
The ICPO director also appealed to the public to be vigilant as the country has been experiencing a cybercrime spike.
On Monday, Nov. 6, charges for violation of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) were filed against the 17 male Chinese nationals.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Benitez Jr., head of the ICPO’s Intelligence Unit, said the suspects may also face charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003).
The said Chinese nationals were arrested in Lawaan Village, Barangay Balantang, Jaro district on Nov. 4.
The suspects, all of legal age, have reportedly been facilitating illicit activities for Filipino and foreign cybersex clients for the past six months, according to Benitez.
A significant number of electronic devices and other equipment were seized during the operation, including 24 computer units containing obscene photos of models, two TP-link switch hubs with 24 ports, 49 cellular phones, two routers, four computers without keyboards and mice, one projector, one monitor, one modem, one DVR Hikvision, and a collection of SIM cards./PN
