Authorities bust mail-order bride syndicate in Cebu

Police on Sunday claimed they have crushed a mail-order bride syndicate operating as a call center firm in Cebu City.

 "We have busted a Chinese-led syndicate which arranges marriage of Filipinas to foreign clients thru the internet," Chief Superintendent Reginald D. Villasanta, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission executive director, said on Sunday.

The syndicate's head was identified as Mei Yi, the owner of the Filipina Heart Internet Consultant, which is located in Banawa Hills, Cebu City.

Mei's company was operating as a call center company.

The suspect was arrested on Saturday afternoon together with Joy Vitor, who was identified as the company's manager.

"This is actually another version of a mail-order bride... but this time, the syndicate is involved in trafficking of persons and attracts foreign clients by allowing them to view sexy photos of Filipinas for a fee," Villasanta said.

Likewise, agents of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group Region 7 has also rescued 13 people during the operation. Seven of them were women. About 35 computer sets and different online equipment were also seized. It contains "sexy pictures of mostly poor Filipinas looking for foreign husbands."

According to the police statement, the suspects are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

"They allow their foreign clients, mostly businessman from Western countries, to access their account and view sexy Filipina models. Once a client finds a prospective wife, the syndicate arranges his Philippine trip to meet his future wife in person," Villasanta noted.

The syndicate's modus operandi was to arrange marriage through the internet. They earn money by asking their foreign clients to pay them using their credit accounts.

The Cebu City raid was part of the Operation Jolly Cupid, which is in line with the ongoing government's campaign against online child and women pornography that has drawn the attention of the international community. — with Rouchelle R. Dinglasan /LBG, GMA News