THE Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in Northern Mindanao has arrested a 23-year-old seaman for alleged sextortion in an entrapment operation at a hotel in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, on Wednesday night, July 12.
Authorities arrested Renan Ranile who blackmailed the victim to have sex with him in exchange for not posting her nude photos on social media.
ACG spokesperson and chief investigator Ritchell Mañabo said the victim is a local female model in the city who sought assistance from the police after she was threatened by Ranile.
Mañabo said a supposed female talent manager added the victim on Facebook and introduced herself as scout for models.
The "talent manager" asked the victim for wholesome pictures and later nude photos but with pay.
The victim sent one photo, believing she will get paid, but no payment was made, prompting her to block the supposed manager's Facebook account.
Days later, the suspect added her on Facebook and started threatening her to upload the nude photo if she will not give in for sexual favor.
"Nagtuo man gud siya una nga babaye ang talent manager pero after wala siya nabayran nagduda na siya busa iyang gi-block pero naa napud nag add sa iya unya didto nagsugod ang paghadlok sa iya (The victim thought the one who added her on Facebook was a female talent manager, but when she wasn’t able to get her payment, she started doubting, so she blocked the person. Someone else added her on Facebook and that’s when she got scared)," Mañabo said.
"Wala siya kaila kay sa messenger ra sila ga-communicate (She didn’t know the person as they only communicated through Facebook messenger)," Mañabo added.
Authorities believed the two Facebook accounts belong to Ranile.
"Ang nude photo nga gi-send niya sa katong talent manager mao ra gihapon nga photo nga gigamit pagpanghadlok sa iya so posible usa ra ang tag-iya sa duha ka Facebook accounts (The photo that the victim sent to the supposed manager was the same photo used by the other Facebook user to threaten her, so it is possible that there is only one person who owns the two Facebook accounts)," Mañabo said.
Prior to the operation, ACG operatives were communicating with the suspect and asked the latter's cellphone number for a meet-up.
Operatives were already in position before the suspect arrived at the hotel and immediately arrested him when he started harassing the victim.
"Nagpa-book una ang suspek sa usa ka motel sa Kauswagan pero gi-bargain nato nga makigkita ang babaye didto sa Carmen. Gidakop nato ang suspek after sa commotion sa kwarto kay ingon sa biktima gipugos na siya ug gihawiran sa abaga (The suspect first booked a room in a motel in Kauswagan but we bargained and asked him to meet us in Carmen. We arrested the suspect after we heard a commotion inside the room. The victim said she was forced and was held by the shoulder)," Mañabo said.
Authorities found out that the suspect was a graduate of nautical studies in a university here and was about to work in an international vessel next month.
Mañabo said the suspect insists it was his first time doing such a thing due to his feelings toward the victim.
"Dili pa nato maingon kung kas-a ra ba ni niya nahimo kay ingon niya naibog daw siya sa biktima (We cannot say if this is the first time that the suspect did something like this because he said he likes the victim)," Mañabo said.
Authorities seized from the suspect's possession five sim cards that will be subjected for forensic examination.
The suspect will be charged with violations of photo and video voyeurism (RA 9995) and attempted rape.
"We remind the public not to entrust ourselves on people we met online, especially giving our personal information and most especially nude photos," Mañabo said.