AS A new police unit that focuses on criminal activities using information and communications technology (ICT) where many people are unfamiliar with its operations, the Anti-Cybercrime Group-Northern Mindanao (ACG-10) urges the public to report crimes related with the internet or electronic gadget use such as cellphones and computers.
Police Superintendent Reynante Reyes, chief of the ACG-10, said with the fast-paced technologies today, there are individuals or groups who may take advantage of others by committing “high-tech” crimes and it is ACG’s job to go after the former who violate the long-established laws, as well as new statutes pertaining to anti-cybercrime.
ACG-10 operates under the supervision of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Office in northern Mindanao (Raco-10), and it is a specialized task unit directly under the central office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to deal with crimes done by, through and with the use of the ICT.
Computer crime or commonly known as “cybercrime” refers to any misconduct that involves computer or with the use of an online network, for instance, “sexploitation,” ACG-10 said.
He said by using the internet as a medium to orchestrate cyberstalking, cyberfraud and cyberpornography in which the illegal doers extract from the public that could benefit them.
“These cybercriminals will always be after your money. Whether it may compromise your life, dignity, savings – name it, these cybercriminals will do anything just to get what they want,” Reyes said.
But he said the same tools (electronic gadgets and the internet) that these cybercriminals use to cheat or defraud people can also be used against the latter to prevent or stop these cybercriminals from committing any illegal act.
“We have an easier and more convenient avenue today because of technology. There are social platforms that our citizens can report to. In this way, we can receive reports and act upon it immediately,” Reyes said.
Since it was established more than a year ago on October 8, 2013, Reyes said the Anti-Cybercrime Group has been doing its operations and has so far filed appropriate charges against cybercrime suspects.
The ACG-10 has received 54 reports and complaints, and has filed 68 cases. Some investigations are still pending while some have already been filed in court.
Among ACG-10’s major cases included a suspect who posed as a recruitment officer who posted an online job hiring on a website; a British national who allegedly hacked his former business partner’s website and e-mail address; and a group of suspected scammers who allegedly defrauded businessmen by selling them fake products worth millions through transactions using electronic devices.
Aside from the Revised Penal Code, cybercrime suspects have also been charged with violation of RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, RA 8792 or the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000, and other related laws.
The Anti-cybercrime group admits that combating cybercriminals is more difficult than mere criminals since methods used for these crimes are associated with ICTs and powered by the internet.
“Anybody can exploit whoever he wants to exploit. Cybercrimes can cause colossal consequences and damages to anyone who uses the computer. That is why our office continues to spread awareness to the public, the children and the netizens,” Reyes said.
Reyes added that economically and technologically emerging cities such as Cagayan de Oro will not be spared from cybercriminal activities, and the use of ICT will become more common, so are occurrences of cybercrimes.
“Because almost all people in the world today use computers, there is that great chance that people become victims of these cybercrimes. The global community is very much aware about this and countries have been trying to arrest these criminals. Unfortunately, cybercrimes know no [boundary], thus making things challenging to the [international and national laws] and enforcement,” he furthered.
Citizens who are victims of cybercrimes can report to Raco-10’s official social network accounts such as Twitter (@npacgrdfl10) and Facebook (PNP-Anticybercrime Group 10). Detailed reports can also be sent through its e-mail address: 10rdfl.emfu.acgroup@gmail.com.
“The public should be alarmed of these no-joke crimes. They may be done virtually, but still they are crimes,” Reyes said.