AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) on Thursday arrested two persons wanted for demanding sex from their young victims in exchange for the deletion of their lewd videos.
PNP-ACG director Brig. Gen. Robert Rodriguez said the arrest was part of their continuing effort to account for all cyber-criminals and those covered with warrants of arrest issued by different courts.
One of the suspects, Zosimo Betonio, resident of Virsare Village in Bgy. Bago Aplaya, Davao City, was caught in an entrapment operation inside Room 1 of Park Drive Inn in Matina area past 12 noon Thursday.
Members of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 11 launched the sting following a complaint from a woman who was blackmailed by the suspect into having sex with him or he will send her sex videos to her family and relatives.
The suspect waited for the complainant to show up at the motel not knowing that undercover officers were already with her.
Betonio will be facing charges for attempted rape and violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and RA 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, said the PNP-ACG head.
The second suspect identified as Jorven Balingit, 27, a resident of Culianan, Zamboanga City, was arrested for a similar offense around 6 p.m. Thursday.
Rodriguez said that the suspect also demanded sex from her 21-year-old ex-girlfriend and threatened to upload their sex videos if she will refuse.
The angry woman sought the assistance of the RACU 9 in arresting the suspect.
Charges for grave coercion and violation of RA 9995, RA 10175 and RA 9262 or the Anti-Women and Children Violence Act were filed against Balingit.