Talisay city police mull fate of cyber sex victims

VICTIMS or accomplices?

That’s the question that has stumped Talisay City police concerning the three women who were caught exposing themselves via web camera in an Internet cafe in Talisay City last Friday afternoon.

“The investigators are still thinking if a case would be filed against them. They weren’t placed behind bars since they were considered rescued victims,” PO3 Juanito Macabinta said.

The three women were still in the custody of the police’s women and children’s desk.

A 42-year-old Internet cafe operator named Mercado of Victoria Village of barangay Tabunok and his caretaker, 31-year-old Clifford Caballero were still detained at the Talisay City police precinct.

Macabinta said only the two men are considered “suspects” in the case. Jaybee Binghay, spokesperson of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7), said rescued female victims usually won’t reach their office.

“If they would be brought here, they would also be immediately released if they can present evidence that they are of age,” Binghay said in a text message.

She said they would immediately release the rescued women if they won’t ask for assistance from the DSWD.

The Internet cafe where the women were rescued from had cubicles and curtains as partitions for the privacy of customers to surf and chat on the Web.

The three women admitted that they would strip for online viewers and were paid $100 per session, said Chief Insp. Eddie Recamera, Talisay City police chief.

They are still weighing whether to charge the women, since cybersex per se is not a crime in Philippines law.

A female police officer acting as decoy went inside the cafe and saw female customers posing in the nude in front of web cameras.

The Internet cafe is located in a commercial building in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.

Among the items seized were nine computer units with monitors, mouses, web cameras and assorted computer equipment.

Recamara said there was no need for a search warrant because the Internet cafe is a public place. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya