A young woman pestered by a 36-year-old stranger’s continuous sending of obscene and indecent messages to her Facebook Messenger account since All Saints’ Day decided that enough is enough.

She contacted the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) office in Naga City and fully cooperated with the Cybercops in launching an operation that resulted in the arrest of the suspect.

According to PNP-ACG director, Brigadier General Robert T. Rodriguez, their investigation showed that suspect Jiel Moyo, a resident of Bgy. Anayan in Pili, Camarines Sur, started sending malicious and obscene messages to the woman’s Messenger last All Saints’ Day.

In a report to PNP chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, the PNP-ACG director said the woman initially ignored the messages but later got worried and angry when the suspect continued his sexual advances through Messenger.

What triggered her outrage was when the suspect asked her to have sex with him. The complainant took the opportunity to set up the suspect who showed up at Zams Apartelle located in Saint Therese Street in Bgy. Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City around 3:20 p.m. Thursday.

The suspect immediately talked with the woman not knowing that members of the Naga City Provincial Anti-Cybercrime Response Team led by Lieutenant Angelo Babagay were already in the area posing as staff of the establishment.

Shortly after he introduced himself as the man she is to meet for sex, the suspect was placed under arrest.

“In this case, the victim told the suspect she wants to really meet and have sex with him. Unknown to the suspect, the woman only wanted to have him placed behind bars,” Rodriguez said.

The suspect is now facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 11313, or Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment otherwise known as the “Bawal ang Bastos” law.

“The incident caused fear, anxiety and sleepless nights to the victim,” said Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 5 chief, Colonel Dennis Rellata.

RA 11313 was signed into a law on April 17, 2019, by President Duterte. The law was enacted to ensure an individual’s sense of personal space and public safety.

The law specifically focused on gender-based sexual harassment in public areas such as streets, privately-owned places open to the public, and public utility vehicles, among others. It also included the protection even to cyberspace and provides for prohibited acts and their corresponding penalties.

Recovered from the possession of the suspect were two mobile phones which will be subjected to a forensic examination by the PNP-ACG. The suspect is now being held at the Naga City Police Station 2 jail.