A 39-year-old man was arrested in an entrapment operation Saturday morning in Southern Leyte for allegedly extorting money from a 21-year-old college student so as not to compromise videos of herself circulating on social media.

PNP Chief Police General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said alyas Chadlie, married, was nabbed at Brgy. Poblacion, Hinunangan, by the Southern Leyte joint elements of Regional Anti Cyber-Crime Unit 8 led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Christopher P Paciteng, Asst. Chief, RACU8, for allegedly extorting money worth P21,000.

Other members of the team included personnel of Hinundayan Municipal Police Station and Southern Leyte Provincial Mobile Force Company.

The arrest stemmed from the complaint filed by the victim at the office of Women and Children Protection Desk.

The victim said she has been receiving threats the suspect, an ex-boyfriend of her, will spread her nude photos and videos to friends and in social media if she will not agree to have sex with him, according to Eleazar.

Citing reports of Police Brigadier General Robert T. Rodriguez, director of PNP Anti-Cyber Crime Group, Eleazar said Bual was apprehended in the act of receiving extorted money amounting to P21,000 from the victim.

The arrested suspect faces criminal charges for violation of R.A. 9995 also known as Anti Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, R.A. 9262 (VAWC) in relation to section 6 of R.A. 10175, violation of Art. 294 (robbery extortion) of RPC in relation to Section 6 of RA10175, and Art. 282 of RPC (grave threat) in relation to RA10175.

Chadlie was turned over to Hinundayan MPS for temporary custody and preparation of appropriate charges to be filed.

“In partnership with our cyber communities/group nationwide and globally, the PNP Anti-Cyber Crime Group, as the prime mover in investigating cybercrimes, will intensify its measures in dealing online frauds and extortion,” Eleazar said.

“As part of our Internal Cleanliness Policy, we are strengthening our war against cybercriminals as we upgrade our equipage in the furtherance of our existing programs”, Eleazar added.