CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – Police arrested Friday a couple who allegedly blackmailed a police trainee in Mindoro by threatening to post his lewd video on social media.
Police Col. Joseph G. Talento, chief of the Philippine National Police Regional Anti-Cyber Crime Unit (RACU) in Region 4-B or Mindoro Occidental and Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan, said the suspects, identified as Camille Barcenal of Bulacan and her live-in partner, Mark-Jun A. Bronola, 25, of Malabon City, were apprehended in an entrapment operation in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.
Talento said the police trainee, who resides in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro, told probers that the two suspects threatened him that they will post his video containing scandalous scenes if he would not send them money.
The woman, who works as a fastfood restaurant crew, reportedly used the Facebook account name “Ivy Barreto” whom the complainant befriended through social media.
Unknown to the police trainee, the woman recorded the videos which he sent to her as he was also receiving seductive videos of her during their intimate online chat.
Operatives of PNP RACU led by Police Major Robinson V. Maranion along with members of San Jose del Monte City Police Station and Sta. Maria Municipal Police Station set up a sting against the couple.
They arrested the suspects at about 7:30 p.m. allegedly while claiming the P5,000 cash that was sent by the complainant in a Palawan Express Pera Padala outlet in Barangay San Martin 1, San Jose del Monte City.
Police recovered from the suspects two cellular phones, the P5,000 cash, a money-transfer transaction slip, and identification cards.
Talento said the two had already victimized several unsuspecting male clients in the past.
The suspects were brought to San Jose del Monte Police Station and are now facing charges for robbery-extortion, grave threat, and violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Anti-Cyber Crime Law.