House committee to look into cybercrimes, local police capability

THE House committee on public order and safety will summon officials of the Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) to shed light on their admission that they are handicapped in dealing with cybersex crimes.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s also understandable. Internet technology has grown exponentially, and given the resources of the national police, it would be difficult to catch up,” said Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district.

Garcia, who chairs the committee, said cybercrimes, like online pornography and prostitution, damage the community.

“People who foment public disorder might make use of Internet technology in furtherance of their acts,” the Cebuano legislator said.

In last Tuesday’s 888 news forum, Chief Supt. Ager Ontog Jr., PRO-7 chief, said the local police is dependent on the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in solving cybercrimes due to the unfamiliarity of police with the technology used in such offenses.

Ontog said evidence gathered in cybercrime cases like computer hard disks have to be sent to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame because the PRO-7 lacks trained personnel and equipment to investigate.

In a phone interview, the Cebuano lawmaker said he will ask PRO-7 officials to brief the House committee on the issue after the House session resumes on July 25.

Garcia said the committee will also invite national police officials and ask if there’s a need to create a special unit to focus mainly on cybercrimes.

“Technology has always been part of the equation. We have to know their requirements,” he said.

The House panel will also invite Department of Justice (DOJ) officials to determine if existing criminal laws are sufficient to punish cyber criminals.

Garcia said nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and government agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Science and Technology could help the PNP in this undertaking.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said the Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC) will be more proactive in dealing with online prostitution cases specifically in the rescue of the victims and prosecution of perpetrators.

As of June this year, Magpale said they handled five cases of human trafficking in the towns of Barili in the south and San Francisco in the north and the cities of Talisay and Carcar.

Their latest case involved a couple in Cordova town who was accused of exploiting their children and niece in their online prostitution racket.

A preliminary conference hearing on the case was set on July 12 at Branch 27 of the Lapu-Lapu Regional Trial Court.

The couple was charged with qualified trafficking while the six kids are still undergoing stress debriefing by a child care specialist for “deep-seated trauma.”

Magpale told Cebu Daily News that they are also looking after the detained mother of the children who is pregnant and is scheduled to give birth next month.