2 wanted ‘cybercriminals’ nabbed
PHILIPPINE National Police’s (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) Director Brigadier General Joel B. Doria, on Saturday, announced the arrest of the two most wanted “cybercriminals” in the country following separate manhunt operations this week.
The official said they arrested a 48-year-old woman tagged as the 7th most wanted cybercrime offender in Eastern Visayas and a male suspect, 38, a system engineer, described as the 7th most wanted person (MWP) in the list of the PNP-ACG regional office in Central Visayas.
“The arrests were the result of an extensive social media investigation, cyber-patrolling and proper coordination with other government and law enforcement agencies we have been doing on orders of PNP chief, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr.,” the PNP-ACG director said.
The official said that the female suspect was arrested in Barangay Salvacion in Palo, Leyte by Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 8 (RACU 8) operatives on the strength of a warrant for cyber libel under Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 issued by Judge Altone Miralles of the Tacloban City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 8.
On the other hand, the 7th MWP in Central Visayas was arrested by RACU 7 officers in Bgy. Inayawan in Cebu City based on a warrant of arrest for four counts of violation of RA 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 issued by Judge Merlo Bagano.
“In my charge, the ACG will serve the best interest of the Filipino people. We will improve our capability and must rise to the challenge in fighting the upsurge of cybercrime and [cyber-related] offenses towards attaining a safer and more secure cyber environment. This is the only way we can contribute to the peace and security framework of PNP chief called ‘M+K+K = K’ or Malasakit, Kaayusan, Kapayapaan tungo sa Kaunlaran,” Doria said.
