INVENTORY. Police operatives look over items confiscated during a search on a house allegedly used for cyber-pornography in Dumaguete City. A Norwegian national and his Filipino live-in partner were arrested during a search on Wednesday afternoon (April 29, 2020). (Photo by Juancho Gallarde)
DUMAGUETE CITY – Police operatives from different units in Negros Oriental arrested a foreign national and his live-in partner and rescued four females believed to be human trafficking victims, during a joint-operation Wednesday afternoon in Barangay Candauay here.
The initial investigation identified the suspects as Ronny Bratlistuen, a Norwegian, 42, and his Filipino live-in partner, Jesebelle Cometa, 22, both residents of Barangay Candauay.
They were arrested during the service of a search warrant in an operation that lasted from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. as the police operatives thoroughly searched the rented house of the suspects.
During the search, four females (two of them a mother and daughter), were rescued.
As a result of the search, the police operatives seized male and female sex toys, vibrators, penis rings, headsets, laptops, and desktop computers, which were all believed to be used in cyber-pornography activities.
The victims were discovered to have been staying in the house of the suspects and were handed over to the City Social Welfare Office for processing and debriefing.
The identities of the victims were withheld.
As of press time, police were still conducting an inventory of the seized items while the arrested suspects are now detained at the lock-up facility of the Dumaguete City Police Station.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003” and other laws concerning cybercrime are being readied against the suspects. (PNA)
