SEVEN persons wanted for various cybercrime offenses have been arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) in separate manhunt operations across the country this week, PNP-ACG director, Brigadier General Robert T. Rodriguez said yesterday.

The 1st identified as Arlene Torres, a 37-year-old resident of Jose Abad Santos Street in Bgy. 235, Tondo, Manila, was arrested on the basis of a warrant for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 issued by Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46.

The Manila judge recommended a P30,000 bail for the temporary liberty of the accused who was placed under the custody of the Manila Police District Station 7.

The 2nd identified as Madilyn Cabarte, 28, a cashier from Bgy. Balatas in Naga City in Camarines Sur, was arrested on the strength of a warrant for two counts of cyber libel in relation to RA 10175.

The warrant was issued by Judge Pablo Formaran III of the Naga City RTC Branch 21 last October 29. The judge recommended a P156,000 bail for the accused who was locked up in a local police jail pending her posting of bail.

The 3rd suspect identified as Jessica Josol, a 43-year-old resident of Purok 1, Bgy. Esperanza in Carmen, Surigao del Sur was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest for violation of RA 10175 issued by Judge Edwin Malazarte of the Tandag City RTC Branch 27 in Surigao del Sur, the official said.

The court recommended a P10,000 bail for the temporary liberty of the accused who was temporarily placed under the custody of the Carmen Municipal Police Station pending her presentation to court.

The 4th, Antonia Martirez, 50, a jobless resident of Zone 2, Bgy. Bagumbayan Sur in Naga City, was arrested on Wednesday inside Villa Virgina Subdivision in Bgy. Concepcion Pequeña in Naga City on the strength of a warrant of arrest for seven counts of cyber-libel issued by Judge Formaran last November 12.

The judge recommended a P78,000 bail for the accused for each of the seven cases.

The 5th identified as Abdulsabbar Amer, 26, a resident of No. 240 Marigold Street in Garden Royal Villas in Pasig City, was arrested Wednesday for violation of the anti-fencing law in relation to RA 10175 or the Anti-Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and aiding or abetting in the commission of cybercrime, Rodriguez said.

The charges were filed following a complaint from a resident of Countryside Village in Sta. Lucia, Pasig City who lost her Macbook Pro 13 to an unidentified thief last November 28.

On Wednesday, the victim’s husband saw the Facebook Marketplace post of one Arisah Abdulaziz Sangcaan selling what appeared to be the stolen laptop computer.

The man contacted the seller and said he was interested in buying the gadget. Unknown to the suspect, the man also contacted the PNP-ACG whose agents monitored their transaction inside the McDonalds’ branch in Caruncho Avenue, Pasig City.

The suspect was arrested during the entrapment operation.

The 6th identified as Rody Alca, 23, a resident of Alca Compound in Purok 4, Bgy. 2 in Calamba City, Laguna, was arrested for computer-related identity theft and swindling/estafa under RA 10175 during a sting in a local store on Wednesday.

Rodriguez said that PNP-ACG operatives under Colonels Mary Ivy Salazar and Ferdinand Raymundo arrested the suspect after he the took the money sent by the complainant to the Smart Padala outlet.

The 7th identified as Frechie Buenavista, 27, a resident of 240 Barrio Pacita in Bgy. 95, South Caloocan City, was arrested in an entrapment operation triggered by a complainant from two persons residing in Zambales and Bataan.

Rodriguez said that it turned out that the accused demanded money from the complainants in exchange for not spreading their explicit videos in the social media.

The suspect is now facing charges for grave coercion and robbery-extortion under RA 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 in relation to RA 10175.