EIGHT alleged members of a criminal syndicate linked to cybersex extortion were arrested after authorities busted a cybersex den in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, Tuesday, July 11.
Operatives of Gingoog City police station, personnel of the Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) and the Anti-Cyber Crime Group in Northern Mindanao were armed with search warrant when they raided the rented apartment of the Roel Ruiz, 29, in Barangay 13, Gingoog City.
Ruiz was arrested including seven others namely: Gerald Pinol, 26, and Joemari Pinol, 21, both native of Lingig, Surigao del Sur; Robert Higana, 24, and Geovani Mandin, 21, both residents of Magallanes, Barangay 24, Gingoog City; Gener Pacot, 29, resident of Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; Hermenegildo Escano, 20, resident of Saa, Barangay 26, Gingoog City; and Lalyn Ruiz, 22, resident of Barobo, Surigao del Sur.
Police seized seven laptops, four thumb drives, 12 mobile phones, two pocket wifi, two ATM cards, two modem, a sim card, P7,000 cash, receipts of money remittances, and other items used in cybersex operation.
Superintendent Roel Lamiing, Gingoog City chief of police, said they have been monitoring the activities of the group for over two months after information reached their office of the group's illegal activities inside the two-story rented apartment.
But, Lamiing said the group might have long been operating since most of the members came to the city last August 2015.
"’Yung anim from Surigao del Sur dumating dito last August 2015 so medyo matagal na ang kanilang operation and baka identified sila doon kay dito sila nag-conduct ng operation," Lamiing said.
The city chief of police said the group's modus was to create social media accounts and befriend people especially foreigners.
They will later entice their victims to perform lewd activities while they secretly filmed and save the videos.
The suspects will then blackmail and extort money from their victims by threatening to post the video on the internet if they will not give in to their demands.
"Magaling silang mang-akit mostly mga lalaking foreigners at pag-naakit nila, they will perform lewd scene at vini-video ng mga suspect. After that tinatakot nila na i-post nila sa internet ang video pag di nagbayad ang mga biktima," Lamiing said.
Lamiing said the group is earning as much as P100,000 every transaction based on the recovered remittance receipts.
"Ang pera na galing sa abroad or dito sa local pinapadala through Western Union o yung mga pera padala center," he added.
The police chief said they are still investigating if the group victimized not only foreigners but also Filipinos.
Lamiing urged the victims to coordinate with them to strengthen the charges set to be filed against the suspects.
"Yung mga biktima nitong mga suspects inimbitahan namin sila at makipag-coordinate sa amin para maimbestigahan natin ng maayos at mapalakas ang kaso,"Lamiing said.
The suspects will be charged for violations of the cybercrime law (Republic Act 10175).
