A 19-YEAR-OLD teenager from Lapu-Lapu City was arrested in an entrapment operation on Monday evening, Jan. 31, 2022, after he threatened to expose the nude photos of a woman on social media if she would not agree to have sex with him.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Lapu-Lapu City Field Unit arrested Paul Vincent Valiente, 19, of Sitio Kawayanan, Barangay Poblacion Oriental, Consolacion town at around 10:30 p.m. Monday.
Valiente was arrested outside a restaurant in VM Patalinghug Avenue in Lapu-Lapu City.
Valiente’s arrest stemmed from a complaint lodged against him by Alexa (not her real name), 21, who claimed that the suspect tried to blackmail her to have sex with him to prevent her naked photos from being posted online.
Police Captain Nigel Sanoy, CIDG Lapu-Lapu City Field Unit officer-in-charge, said Valiente and Alexa started contacting each other last year.
After several messages with Alexa on Facebook, Valiente, who was using a pseudonym, convinced the victim to send nude photos of herself in exchange for money.
As she needed the money to pay for her college education, Alexa immediately grabbed the opportunity and sent her naked photos to Valiente.
After sending the photos, Alexa was surprised to find that Valiente had blocked her from messaging him.
But on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, Alexa suddenly received a message from an unidentified person who sent her the nude photos of herself.
The unidentified person also messaged Alexa that she must agree to have sex with him or he would post the photos on social media.
He also warned Alexa that she must decide before Monday morning, Jan. 31, or he would post the photos.
This prompted Alexa to seek help from the CIDG.
Sanoy said in order to arrest the suspect, they urged Alexa to meet with him so that they could entrap him.
Sanoy instructed Alexa to reply and tell the suspect that they would meet Monday evening in Lapu-Lapu City, where the entrapment operation would be conducted.
Alexa waited in the area while CIDG operatives in hiding waited for the suspect to appear.
When Valiente finally arrived around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, the police barged in and arrested him.
Sanoy said they were surprised that Valiente admitted that it was not only Alexa he had victimized.
Valiente claimed he had victimized more than 10 girls using a similar modus operandi.
Police confiscated Valiente’s cellphone, which he had used to victimize Alexa and other women.
Sanoy said Valiente held several social media accounts, which he used to talk to his victims.
Police Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, CIDG 7 chief, urged other women to come forward if they had been victimized by Valiente.
Dalogdog said they will charge Valiente with violating Republic Act (RA) 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children Law, RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and RA 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act. (AYB / TPT)