“WE now possess the equipment that will track you down.”
That was Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale’s warning yesterday to parents who continue to expose their children to cyber pornography despite the recent raids done by authorities in the towns of Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City.
Magpale, who heads the Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC), said the US International Homeland Security through their high-end tools will lead to more tips on the cybersex performers’ whereabouts.
“This will serve as a warning to those who continue to perform cybersex. Now we’ve upgraded our equipment to cater to the changing times,” she told reporters yesterday.
“Before we had a hard time cracking down their computer’s central processing units (CPU). We can now say that we have the necessary equipment. I just cannot disclose it,” she added.
According to Magpale, agents from Homeland Security will also continue to work closely with the province, police and other non-government organizations with the country’s mutual legal assistance treaty with the US.
Last week, a police task force arrested Maricel Ayad at her home for allegedly exposing her five young daughters to cyberpornography in barangay Ibabao, Cordova.
Two days after, thirteen girls believed to be victims of Internet pornography were picked up from their classrooms and homes in the same town by a joint task force on human trafficking.
She said the legislation such as the proposed ordinance penalizing money transfer shops used by cybersex performers to receive money abroad can only do so much without the change of people’s values.
“I would like to say that our approach now is very holistic. We’re talking to the parents. The church is on board but what can we do if the parents themselves continue to put their children in this business?” Magpale said. /Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos