Cebu City Internet cafés monitored

By Joeberth Ocao, The Philippine Star

CEBU CITY — To ensure that Internet cafés in the city do not tolerate cybersex, the city council has approved a resolution requesting the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to closely monitor them.

The council, through a resolution of councilor Edgardo Labella, said the report of the supposed proliferation of cybersex operations is, indeed, "jolting" considering that "very few citizens have ready access to personal computers with an Internet connection, thereby inferring that some Internet outlets may be directly or indirectly involved in the clandestine operation of cybersex."

The resolution said what has compounded the cybersex issue is the claim of a website that it reportedly has a list of 212,257 potential online sexual partners from the Philippines.

Just recently, law enforcement agencies busted cybersex dens in Quezon City, Angeles City and Bangued, Abra where a number of women and minors confessed that they were paid to undress and perform sexual acts in front of computer video cameras.

In Cebu, a foreigner was investigated years ago for allegedly operating an Internet café, which allegedly practiced cybersex.

Cebu City has hundreds of Internet cafés where 70 percent of paying customers are students.

"Undeniably, there is a need to address this issue considering that cybersex freaks lure mostly women and young girls, including those from the provinces, into becoming performers in cybersex," stated Labella’s resolution.

Republic Act 7925 or the Public Telecommunication Policy Act mandates that NTC regulate the operations of public telecommunications entities such as Internet cafés to safeguard public interest and public morals. — Freeman News Service