Shocking as it is, the admission of policemen in Central Visayas that they are not capable of handling crimes that use Internet technology did not surprise me a bit.
The police’s lack of know-how in investigating cybercrimes was revealed by no less than the regional police director of Central Visayas, Chief Supt. Ager Ontog Jr., during the 888 news forum last Tuesday.
I was delighted to see Ontog in the panel alongside Metro Cebu Water District Environment Division chief Diane Rallon and other MCWD guests because I had long wanted to know about the PNP’s capability in stemming the tide of cybercrimes after the arrest of a couple in Cordova town last June 1.
As we all know, the backyard operation of cybersex in Cordova has been going on for years, but it only came out in the open after the couple in barangay Ibabao was caught by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the act of letting their young children perform lewd acts before a web camera for online customers.
The report shook the four corners of the province because while crime reports are a staple in a big city like ours, the production of pornographic live video inside the home, by father, mother and children for distribution to paying online customers is too deplorable to ignore. Reports that this has been going on for the last six years under the noses of local authorities in many homes in Cordova are not only appalling but also scandalous in light of reports that there has been a noticeable incidence of incest in that town.
While my colleagues asked Ms Rallon about water billing issues, I made a mental recapitulation of what has been done after the arrest and subsequent filing of criminal cases against the cyber couple.
Provincial government officials lost no time in addressing the problem. Gov. Gwen Garcia and the Provincial Women’s Council led by Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale immediately conferred with the NBI and local officials. Initiatives like an information campaign through modules to be taught in schools and values formation for parents were to be set up. However, it seems the local government under Mayor Adelino Sitoy has still to match Capitol’s response with livelihood programs.
Hizzoner promised to provide his constituents with livelihood programs and jobs, but that would depend on the implementation of the Cordova reclamation project, which envisions a mini-Boracay in the heart of the impoverished town. Pastilan. Poverty has driven these people to the dark side, and the mayor’s mind is still on the multimillion-peso project.
The response of the police also makes me uneasy. Just this week, it was reported that Cordova police placed 10 cybersex dens under surveillance. However, it was reported that local policemen cannot just enter the premises. The other problem is lack of equipment.
First of all, if the cybercrime dens are under surveillance, why announce the operation? In Manila, that kind of action always invites speculation that lawmen are trying to extort some people but I’m not saying this is the game plan of the local police.
My point is, if there’s a procedural or technical problem, why announce it to the media? Why not to police higher-ups? The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force in the PRO-7 are the police units that handle cybercrimes cases.
I’m glad to have buttonholed Chief Supt. Ontog during the media forum because he let the cat out of the bag and now Congress is set to hear police officials state the problems and listen to their proposals.
The House committee on public order and safety chaired by Congressman Pablo John Garcia (3rd district Cebu) will summon regional and national police officials for a briefing on the cybercrimes situation on July 25. Garcia told this corner in a phone interview that he will ask the Department of Justice to enlighten the panel about existing criminal laws, whether they are sufficient to prosecute criminals adept at using the latest technology.
I hope the PNP will not settle for ad hoc solutions that would involve the participation of other national agencies because it merely serves to muddle the situation. The PNP needs a new and special unit, to be manned by young and technology-savvy policemen.
Congressman Garcia pointed out that Internet technology has grown exponentially these past years, making it difficult for the police to catch up.
With all due respect to the lawmaker, I think the problem is not about catching up because when you have policemen groping in the dark about what to do with technology-related crimes, it is a tell-tale sign that the PNP has let technology pass them by.
This is a terrible blunder and I hope Congress will set straight the problem by helping lead the PNP to be in step with technology.