Women in cybersex racket willing to testify

THE three women arrested in a raid in a house used for a cybersex racket in barangay Cogon, Cordova town, may be able to tell who else are involved.

“We are willing to become state witnesses. We will identify the person who should be held liable for the offense,” said the 31-year-old mother whose 9-year-old daughter was rescued by police.

In separate interviews, the women denied involvement in the illicit trade and instead blamed a female operator of computer units in the house raided last Tuesday.

Three young girls were posing naked in front of a camera, when the police raided the house.

The female operator slipped away while the house owner wasn’t around when the raid took place.

The three arrested women are related to the minors.

One is a mother, another is an older sister and a third is an aunt of the rescued children.

The three women were brought to the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office for an inquest proceeding yesterday.

The country’s justice system allows an accused person to turn state witness provided that he or she is not the most guilty of the offense offense charged.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the court will decide whether to grant this status.

The women were charged with violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, the Anti-Child Pornography Law and the Anti-Child Abuse Act.

The respondents were presented before Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Jay Paradiang, who explained to them legal procedures.

They were given three days to file their counteraffidavits.

“Mere denial cannot overcome the allegations of the police who caught you in the act,” the prosecutor said.

If charges are filed, they will be lodged with the Regional Trial Court in Lapu-Lapu City.

Police said the women “coached” the three children to pose naked.

In an interview, one of the women admitted cybersex operations were common in barangay Cogon.

She said a female operator was to blame.

The woman said she was only asked to bring food to the operator.

“They should stop doing this. I pity the children,” she said.

Her 9-year-old daughter and two other girls aged 12 and 17 years old were placed under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“I care for my children very much. Although we are separated, I hope she won’t forget me,” the 31-year-old mother said. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol