MANILA – Members of the Philippine National Police-Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) arrested four persons in separate anti-cybercrime operations.
In a statement Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding, PNP-ACG officer-in-charge, said two suspects were arrested by the ACG for alleged “sextortion” in separate operations in Pasig City and Tarlac.
The first suspect was identified as 24-year-old John Pacana, who was nabbed inside a hotel in Pasig City on July 15.
The operation stemmed from the complaint of a 19-year-old female college student who said she met the suspect on July 11 through “Omegle (Talk to Strangers),” a social networking site.
During their conversation, the suspect offered PHP25,000 to the victim in exchange for a one-night stand.
He even promised to give her PHP3 million and a condominium unit if she will send her nude photos to him, to which she agreed.
On July 14, the victim received a message from a certain “Ioannes Salazar” who threatened to expose her nude photos and kill her if she will not have sex with him.
The suspect then asked the victim to meet at a hotel in Pasig City.
After validating the complaint, operatives launched an entrapment operation which resulted in the suspect's arrest.
The suspect is facing charges of grave threat, and grave coercion in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. He underwent e-inquest proceedings at Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on July 16.
In Tarlac, members of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 3 (RACU 3) and the local police arrested Alvin Sicat, 32, inside a money remittance center in Barangay San Nicolas, Bamban, Tarlac on July 14.
The operation stemmed from the complaint of the victim who said the suspect threatened to expose her explicit photos and videos to her family if she will not send PHP2,000 to him.
Seized from the possession of the suspect were his cellphone and a PHP1,000 bill.
The suspect is facing charges of grave coercion and violation of the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, both in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Also on July 14, two suspects -- Elmer Batayan and Junnel Paul Gorospe -- were arrested for the illegal sale of "verified" GCash accounts in Malate, Manila.
The PNP-ACG said the verified GCash accounts were being sold via Facebook Marketplace at PHP600 each.
Upon verifying the transaction, ACG members launched an entrapment where they agreed to buy 18 pieces of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards with verified GCash accounts worth PHP10,800.
Batayan and Gorospe yielded a mobile phone and 20 SIM cards with verified GCash accounts.
The suspects will be facing charges for violations of misuse of device and the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998, in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. (PNA)
