Money shops seen as conduits to cybersex operators

CASH remittance institutions were identified as a conduit for payments of online pornography shows in Cordova town whose mayor called for a congressional investigation on these reports.

In a forum held over the weekend, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said cyber pornography operators would call up their contacts inside the cash remittance institutions to verify if payments were transmitted prior to the start of a live, online show.

Sitoy said he wants to know who receives these remittances and list of customers so he can submit these in a request for a Lower House inquiry.

He said the request will be made after a third raid will be done in Cordova this month.

Rep. Gabriel “Luigi” Quisumbing of Cebu’s sixth district earlier promised to call for a congressional inquiry into child exploitation in response to the recent cyber sex den raids that involved minor victims exploited by their parents or guardians.

In yesterday’s press conference, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma reminded Cebuanos to be “extra careful” in using the Internet by avoiding online pornography sites since these exploit women and children.

During the forum, Sitoy lauded Cordova residents who provided their office with information and evidences on ongoing cybersex dens operating in the town.

He said the recent raid was staged after a copy of an online pornography video helped them get the search warrant.

The video was given to them by a resident in the area.

Sitoy ordered a registration of all homes and Internet cafes.

The mayor said they conducted value formation campaigns in schools and communities with the assistance of school teachers and their parish priest.

Sitoy said one of the mothers of the nine-year-old kid who was rescued last week was always attending these activities.

Mayor Sitoy said most  people engage in cybersex operations since it means “easy money” for them.

Palma told local media at the Archbishop’s Palace that “misuse of the media” has spawned cyber-pornography.

“Part of our pastoral ministry  is to remind the people about the dangers of all of this,” he said.

Palma said he will remind parish priests during their separate communication seminars to

remind their faithful to guard against the misuse of the Internet.

“Hopefully, as a Christian community, we also have to be extra careful in guarding and trying our utmost best to see to it that people especially women and children will be truly respected and to avoid these things from happening,” he said.

Provincial Board (PB) member Arleigh Sitoy said persons involved in the cyber pornography business may be relatives of some policemen.

He said most policemen have their own homes in Cordova town.

He said this is why Mayor Sitoy opted to tap the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) so their operations would not be compromised.

“The mayor wanted to ensure success especially since so many local policemen are residents of Cordova. They could easily be compromised as the suspects could after all be their relatives,” Sitoy said.

The first Cordova raid was done by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-7) through the assistance of the Provincial Women’s Commission.

The second raid was staged with the help of the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (PIIB).

“Time to ferret out more culprits at the sitio level by offering rewards to informants.At the same time, intensify anti-cybersex advocacies in the barangays… continue livelihood seminars and moral recovery programs and undertake job fairs,” the PB member said. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus