Cybersex: Easy Money

A Special Report on Cebu’s Cybersex Business and Operations

Many people who wanted to earn money the easy way have been lured into illegal activities such as engaging in cybersex or operating cybersex dens.

Cybersex, according to reports, has become a growing industry in many parts of the world, including in the Philippines, where there is a perception that there is a low risk of arrest of violators despite the existence of laws like Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009; and Republic Act 9208 or the Human Trafficking Act.

CYBERSEX AND THE LAW

Oxford Dictionaries defines cybersex as “sexual arousal using computer technology, especially by wearing virtual reality equipment or by exchanging messages with another person via the Internet.”

Philippine laws, meanwhile define cybersex as “the willful engagement, maintenance, control, or operation, directly or indirectly, of any lascivious exhibition of sexual organs or sexual activity, with the aid of a computer system, for favor or monetary consideration.”

A person found guilty of engaging in cybersex faces up to six months in jail and a fine of not less than P200,000 but not to exceed P1 million, or both imprisonment and fine, upon the discretion of the court. Persons arrested for operating cybersex dens, meanwhile, face charges of violating Republic Act 9208 or the Human Trafficking Act.

Despite the said laws, however, there are still people who engage in this illegal activity, operating even in their homes.

THE FIGHT VS. CYBERSEX OPERATIONS

The town of Cordova in Mactan hogged the headlines after a joint team composed of representatives from the police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), assisted by the International Justice Mission (IJM), raided several cybersex dens in Barangay Ibabao. The raiding team apprehended a few couples who allowed their teenage children perform sexual acts in front of the webcam.

The police said they have received intelligence reports that cybersex dens are also operating in other parts of the province and they are closely monitoring these areas.

The media learned that an operator of a cybersex den in Cordova charges their foreigner-clients P4,000 to P5,000 an hour. Clients would usually pay through money transfer companies before the cybersex performers start their so-called show.

Cordova town Mayor Adelino Sitoy plans to regulate the operations of money transfer firms in his town and asked law enforcement authorities to keep an eye and run after these firms. Sitoy said he is ready to face these companies in court.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, meanwhile, said city policemen have constant contact with the officials of the 30 barangays in Lapu-Lapu City and she sees this as one way of preventing cybersex operations.

“Kon dunay maglakaw-lakaw nga foreigner nga may kuyog nga batan-on amo g’yud na nga panid-an. Ang gibuhat sa mga sakop sa tourist police mao nga gi-monitor nila ang mga bata nga anaa sa tourist belt aron maprotehean sila,” Radaza said.

She added that the City Tourism Office also have regular meetings with tourism stakeholders to monitor the activities of foreigners in Lapu-Lapu City.

For his part, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said they are in close coordination with non-government organizations (NGOs) and the barangay officials to improve the advocacy against cybersex operations and human trafficking.

Mandaue City’s Council for the Protection of Children is headed by the mayor’s wife, Sarah, who also created similar councils in the city’s 27 barangays to ensure that the entry or proliferation of such kind of illegal activity can be prevented.

Roger Paller, the city’s public information officer, said the personnel of the City Social Welfare and Services (CSWS) had discovered and stopped an attempt to operate a cybersex den in one of the barangays in Mandaue City.

Paller said that the mayor’s wife launched last week the first ever search for the Most Child-Friendly Barangay, with prizes amounting to P400,000, to encourage barangay officials to be active in the protection of children in their respective barangays.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is also confident that if barangay officials will actively monitor such illegal activities in their respective jurisdictions, it would be easy for the government to succeed in its drive against cybersex operations and human trafficking.

Rama, however, did not discount the possibility that cybersex operations are already in Cebu City, which is why he challenged barangay officials to help in the campaign against it.

In 2010, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided a house in Barangay Pasil and arrested a woman for using her teenage daughter in her cybersex operations. The woman’s daughter admitted that she earned money by performing sexual acts while naked in front of the webcam.

While there are parents who use their own children in cybersex operations, there are den operators who hire teenage girls and pay them P500 to P1,000 per hour.

The police admitted that it has become difficult for them to monitor cybersex operations because those engaged in the business have moved their operations to discreet areas, or even inside houses.

Talisay City public information officer Vince Monterde said this is the reason why barangay officials can really help fight such illegal activities. He said the barangay officials in Talisay were asked to immediately report to the authorities if they observe any sign of cybersex and cyber pornography activities in their areas.

“So far we have not received reports of cybersex and child pornography operations in Talisay City,” Monterde said.

For his part, Naga City public information officer Garry Cabotaje said their social workers have intensified the information campaign about the ill-effects of cybersex operations to discourage people from engaging on it.

“Our social workers are closely monitoring any possible reports of parents engaged in cybersex using their kids at their homes. So far, city social welfare officer Delia Tibay said they have not encountered any case,” Cabotaje said.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION

Cybersex and human trafficking operations are really big problem for local government units. It is fortunate, though that the International Justice Mission (IJM) is active in helping authorities fight these illegal activities.

The IJM is a human rights agency that rescues victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.

Gary Haugen, who used to work as lawyer of the United States Department of Justice, founded IJM in 1997 as a response to the need to help the thousands of human rights victims and child-abuse cases.

The IJM helps anti-trafficking law enforcement authorities in conducting operations against human traffickers, operators of cybersex dens and rescues the victims, who are mostly young women recruited from the different towns in the province.

The organization’s lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to immediately secure victims, prosecute perpetrators, and to help ensure that public justice systems effectively protect the poor.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama lauded the IJM for helping government officials in the Philippines in the fight against human traffickers and operators of cybersex dens.

At present, IJM has more than 500 lawyers, investigators and social workers, and most of them are citizens of the countries where they are assigned.

Aside from the Philippines, IJM also works with the governments of Cambodia, Thailand, India, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Bolivia, and Guatemala.

The IJM personnel in the Philippines had worked hand-in-hand with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the police and their operations have resulted to the arrest of cybersex den operators in Barangay Ibabao, Cordova. Several children, including the daughters of the violators, were rescued.

A woman who was arrested in that operation said poverty led her and her neighbors to engage in cybersex operations.

Ibabao Barangay Captain Chito Bentazal, however said that using poverty as an excuse for getting into the cybersex operations is a poor excuse.

He said these people have other livelihood options, as what other residents in his barangay are doing.

Residents of Barangay Ibabao are engaged in fishing, stone-processing, driving tricycles and trisikads to earn money for their family.

Bentazal said those who engage in cybersex operations just want easy money.

Technology is the best friend of those who are into cybersex operations.

One would just need a computer or a laptop that has a webcam and internet connection. Cybersex clients pay through money transfer firms that transmit the payment in just minutes.

NIGHTCLUBS

But while there are those who engage in the illegal activity to earn money, there are also those who go into the cybersex trade to satisfy their sexual desires without the risk of getting sexually-transmitted diseases or getting pregnant.

Aside from the cybersex, the IJM also campaigns against the hiring of women to be made as commercial sex workers in certain clubs and other night spots.

A popular club in Cebu City was ordered close by the mayor after it was found out that its female workers offer “extra services” to customers.

Over 100 young female guest relations officers were earlier rescued by the members of the National Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the International Justice Mission during a surprise raid days before the bar was closed.

An official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) believes that poverty compelled these women to work as guest relations officers.