Cybersex suspects granted P160,000 bail each

THE eight people arrested for extortion and cyber-pornography in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, may soon be out of jail after they were granted by the court a P160,000 bail each.

Gingoog City Police Chief Roel Lamiing said Roel Ruiz, Gerald Pinol, Joemari Pinol, Robert Higana, Geovani Mandin, Gener Pacot, Hermenegildo Escano, and Lalyn Ruiz, were charged in court for violations of the Cybercrime Prevention Act or Republic Act (RA) 10175.

"Na file na ang kaso in court yung violation of section 4 (6) (c) (1) of RA 10175. The court granted P160,000 each bailbond," Lamiing said.

Lamiing said none of the suspects has posted bail as of Monday, July 17.

The Gingoog police are also waiting for the commitment order for the detention of the suspects.

Authorities arrested the suspects on July 11 after raiding the supposed cybersex den where evidence like laptops, cellphones, wifi, ATM cards, sim card, P7,000 cash and receipts of money remittances were seized inside the rented apartment.

Lamiing said they are conducting intelligence gathering to trace whether there are more suspects doing similar illegal activity in the city.

The police chief said the “modus” of the suspects is to create social media accounts and pretend to be women to entice their victims to do sexual actions.

The suspects would record the video and threaten the victims to post the video on the internet if they would not give in to their monetary demands.

Suspects were said to be preying on foreign men.

"Sa ngayon wala pa tayong namonitor na (As of now, we haven’t monitored any) other group na gumagawa nito pero (that dis the same but an) ongoing investigation natin and intelligence gathering," Lamiing said.

"Pag may commitment order na, we will turn over them to the city jail," Lamiing added.

The Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in Northern Mindanao is still waiting for the resolution of the inquest proceedings against Renan Ranile, who was arrested for alleged sextortion.

Authorities arrested Ranile in an entrapment operation at Middleton Apartelle in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, Wednesday, July 12, after he blackmailed the victim to upload her nude photos in the social media if she will not give in to sexual favors.

ACG spokesperson Ritchell Manabo said the ACG charged Ranile with violations of photo and video voyeurism (RA 9995), cybercrime law (RA 10175), and attempted rape.