NBI arrests two 'sextortion' suspects in Bulacan

The National Bureau of Investigation has arrested two men allegedly involved in "sextortion" who had victimized a parliament member from a European country, GMA News 24 Oras reported Wednesday.

 

Cousins Adam Mangahas and Reih Alexander Gutierrez, both 20 years of age, were arrested by the NBI Cybercrime Division in a remittance center in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

 

"Before they hit on somebody, pinag-aaralan nila yung profile nung tao... kung saan ba siya nagtatrabaho, ano mga background niya, ano ang capacity to pay niya. Medyo malaking tao yung nabiktima," NBI Cybercrime Division head Ronald Aguto said in the report.

The NBI said the parliament member went to the Philippines and confronted the suspects.

 

The modus of the suspects, based on the forensic examination done on their gadgets, includes posting sexy pictures of Filipinas to attract their foreigner targets.

 

The suspects also use a pre-recorded video and pretend as a woman in chat to encourage victims to do obscene acts in front of the webcam, which they secretly record. 

 

The video will then be used to blackmail their victim. "Once they have his video, upload nila ito, papakita dun sa tao na meron talaga siyang video and they start asking money. Initially... as much as P100,000 or mga $5,000," Aguto said.

 

Extortion and violations of the Cybercrime Law, punishable by six to 12 years of imprisonment, charges were filed against the suspects.

 

The NBI said it will look for the other victims of Mangahas and Gutierrez.  — Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/ELR, GMA News