PNP-ACG nabs 8 for cybercrimes
EIGHT persons wanted for various cybercrimes were arrested in separate anti-criminality operations last week by agents of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the Journal Group learned Tuesday.
PNP-ACG Director Brigadier General Joel B. Doria said that the six were arrested in separate entrapment operations triggered by complaints regarding their involvement in computer hacking, cyber fraud, and online sexual exploitation.
Those operations also resulted in confiscating pieces of evidence, including computer hardware and mobile devices, which will form part of the evidence to be presented by the arresting officers in court.
Doria said two of the suspects were live-in partners arrested inside their residence in Alabel, Sarangani, by members of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) 12 last January 25 for an online libel case.
Judge Previous Aurea Pojas of the Alabel Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 38 recommended a P10,000 bail for each suspect.
The two were accused of posting libelous statements on their Facebook accounts to “malign” a complainant.
The 3rd, a 28-year-old male, was arrested by RACU 12 operatives based on a warrant for two counts of cyber libel issued by Judge Ma. Theresa Cammanong of the Malaybalay City RTC Br. 9 in Bukidnon.
The suspect was caught in Bgy. Consorcia in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte last January 23.
“In the light of the escalating cases of cyber libel, we at the ACG remind the public to use social media responsibly. Think twice before you click,” Doria said.
The 4th suspect, a 35-year-old resident of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, was arrested for violating the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 on Wednesday last week.
Judge Gerardo Paguio Jr. of the Dumaguete City RTC Br. 40 ordered the arrest of the suspect who was accused of “secretly filming” a woman as she was taking a bath.
