The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO5) through its Anti-Cybercrime Unit is urging the public, particularly parents with minor children, to always check and monitor their kids’ online activities.
In an interview on the sidelines of the “The Impact of Cyber and Emerging Technologies on Public Safety” symposium in Naga City on Friday, PRO5 Anti-Cybercrime Unit Chief Capt. Angelo Babagay said they noted a five-percent increase in filed cybercrime cases in the region during the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2023.
“Kung minsan ang mga malimit na nabibiktima ay mga minors. Akala nila may mga website na hindi nila alam mga predator ‘yun. Minsan yayayain mag-model, mga ganon ang mga nangyayari. (Sometimes the most frequent victims are minors. They go to websites which they don’t know have predators. Sometimes they would be invited to go into modeling. That’s what happens),” he said.
Babagay said that filed cybercrimes cases in the region include identity theft, cyberlibel, cyberbullying, online threats, online scams and anti-photo-video voyeurism.
“Halos araw-araw may nagrereklamo sa amin opisina. Hindi bumababa ng 10 kada araw (Almost everyday, someone complains at our office. Not less than 10 per day),” he added.
He said they conduct school visitations to make students aware of cybercrimes and also talk with school and village officials.
He urged those who might experience cyber-related crimes to report to the police station.
The symposium was sponsored by the Information Sharing and Analysis Center at the Summit Hotel here. (PNA)