AGENTS of the National Capital Region Field Unit (NCRFU) of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Tuesday afternoon smashed an underground “gay sex den” in Caloocan City where “live pay-per-view” or live sex acts are reportedly being performed, a report to PNP-CIDG Director Major General Eliseo DC Cruz said yesterday.

CIDG-NCRFU Chief Col. Randy Glenn G. Silvio said that five gay persons were arrested during the 5:00 p.m. Tuesday raid at Interior 3, Heroes Del 96, Caloocan City.

He added that a 20-year-old gay said to have been illegally detained by the accused and forced to perform “live sex” acts in front of a videocam for him to pay his debts from the suspects was rescued during the operation.

The victim was identified only as “John” (to protect his privacy), a resident of Bgy. 73, Caloocan City.

Col. Silvio said that arrested during the raid were the owner and suspected operator of the gay sex den, identified as alias “Carla” and four others, including the den owner’s brother.

The CIDG-NCRFU chief said that in coordination with the Northern Police District Women and Children Protection Section and District Special Operations Unit under Brig. Gen. Ulysses G. Cruz, they raided the place following a complaint from a friend of “John” that the latter is being held against his will inside the house of one alias “Carla” and being compelled to work on a cybersex activity as payment for his alleged debt.

Silvio said that when officers arrived in the area, the victim immediately shouted for help after seeing the law enforcement officers.

He said that the victim was immediately rescued, and the suspects were placed under arrest.

The official said that some of the suspects were caught naked and performing “perverted and indecent acts” in front of personal computers with webcams.

Confiscated inside the raided place were two sets of desktop computers, a 32” inch colored monitor, two “dildos” or sex toys, a bottle of liquid lubricant, 14 assorted condom packs, four assorted hair wigs, and assorted sexy costumes/clothing materials.

He said that local barangay officials witnessed the inventory of the confiscated pieces of evidence in the presence of the accused.

The suspects are now being held at the CIDG Northern District Field Unit, where charges for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; RA 10175 or the Anti-Cybercrime Law of 2002; Article 268 or slight illegal detention and Article 201 or “immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent show” under the Revised Penal Code are being readied against them, Silvio said.

The official said that before the raid, they identified some suspects as members of a cybersex ring involved in gay sex activities in the Camanava (Caloocan/Malabon/Navotas/Valenzuela) district.

He said that they have found out that the suspects created an account for cybersex websites – Chaturbate.com and Stripchat.com, where they live stream their pre-recorded videos and live videos to their clients, mostly foreigners who like porn sites.

The syndicate’s clients send “tokens” directly to the group, which can be converted to pesos thru Western Union and MLhuillier cash remittance companies, Silvio said.

The CIDG-NCRFU chief said that they discovered that since November 2021, the suspects have been earning a minimum of P7,000 to P10,000 a week, the amount going up to as much as P37,000 during their peak days.

Col. Silvio said they have found out that “Carla” was able to download into his websites several lewd pictures and pornographic videos, which prompted his numerous online patrons to ask for his online shows/performances and recorded videos in exchange for tips/tokens.

“His other gay friends usually joined the lewd online shows. Unluckily, one of his gay friends wanted to quit, but Carla threatened him, which prompted the victim to seek police assistance through his friend,” the official said.