Suspect nabbed for threatening to spread explicit video of victim

The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) arrested a suspect who allegedly threatened to spread an explicit video he took of his female victim.

An initial investigation showed victim Unica (not her real name) filed complaints against the suspect after he threatened to spread an explicit video of her online, which he filmed without consent. 

“Parang nakita ko na medyo obsessed siya. Ayoko nang ganito dahil hindi ako okay. Hindi ako komportable,” she said in Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report on “24 Oras” Friday. 

(I noticed he was getting obsessed so I told him that we should end our arrangement.)

“Tinatakot ako na magpapakalat ng video sa dummy account niya kapag hindi ako nakipagkita at nakipagtalik sa kaniya,” she said. 

(But he threatened to spread my video online using a dummy account.)

The victim also said the suspect, who was her former business associate and sexual partner, began stalking her after she decided to cut off ties. 

“‘Di ako titigil, guguluhin kita habambuhay’. Then nagmamakaawa po ako sa kaniya na kung pwede pag-usapan namin kasi sobrang stress na yung inabot ko,” she said. 

(He told me he would never stop. I begged and told him we should just talk because I was getting stressed over what he was doing.)

“Sa trabaho, magse-send siya ng picture nasa labas siya ng office. One time, nag-send din siya ng picture na nasa labas siya ng subdivision,” she added. 

(He would send pictures when he was outside my office. One time, he was outside our subdivision.)

The suspect faced charges of grave coercion and violation of the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Law, according to the PNP-ACG. 

“Nung hinihingi ni victim 'yung proof kay suspect na id-delete niya, hindi pumayag si suspect. Gusto niya maghubad muna si victim. Dun siya pumasok sa banyo at tumawag sa mga operatiba,” Police Captain Michelle Sabino, PNP-ACG Spokesperson, said.

(When the victim was asking for proof that he would delete it, the suspect refused and asked her to take her clothes off. That’s when she asked for help.) 

Meanwhile, Sabino warned against the alleged selling of illegally recorded videos as the PNP-ACG reported a rising number of similar cases in the country. 

“Mas malaking problema pag ito ay kumalat sa mga porn sites. Kasi mayroon tayong mga cases na ganiyan na hindi alam ng mga babae na napupunta na pala sa porn sites ang kanilang videos at binabayaran ang suspect once it’s uploaded,” said Sabino. 

(It will be a bigger problem if the video was uploaded on porn sites. We've learned of similar cases.)

“Tumataas in a sense na marami na ang nagsusumbong. Before, ayaw ng mga babae na magsumbong because of shame, now, because dahil continuous ang public awareness natin na kayo ay biktima at hindi ito nakakahiya, na it could happen to also to other people, then they start coming out and complaining,” she added. 

(The number of cases is rising in the sense that more victims are seeking help. Previousl, women tended to stay silent because of shame. But because of public awareness, they now see they are not alone.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News