Woman arrested in Laoag over alleged online threats, coercion involving intimate images

A 27-year-old woman was arrested in an entrapment operation in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte after allegedly threatening to distribute the intimate photos of her former partner unless the victim agreed to reconcile with her, police said.

According to the Ilocos Norte Provincial Cyber Response Team (INPCRT), the case began after a 28-year-old complainant from Solsona, Ilocos Norte sought police assistance on 25 June, alleging that her former romantic partner had been repeatedly harassing, threatening and coercing her through Facebook Messenger.

The complainant told investigators that during their relationship, the suspect allegedly took screenshots of her nude images while they were on video calls. After the relationship ended, the suspect allegedly threatened to circulate the images unless the complainant returned to Ilocos Norte, met with her in person and resumed their relationship.

Following an evaluation of the complaint and the digital evidence submitted, the INPCRT determined there was sufficient basis to conduct an entrapment operation.

At around 2 p.m. on 29 June, joint operatives of the INPCRT and the Laoag City Police Station, in coordination with the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office, carried out the operation in Laoag City, leading to the suspect's arrest.

Police said the woman was informed of the nature of her arrest and apprised of her constitutional rights in a language she understood. The operation was also documented using alternative recording devices in accordance with Supreme Court rules on body-worn cameras.

Authorities recovered a white Tecno Spark mobile phone, marked money consisting of one P1,000 bill, three P100 bills and one P50 bill, as well as a persons-with-disability (PWD) identification card.

The suspect is facing complaints for Grave Coercion under Article 286 of the Revised Penal Code and alleged violations of Republic Act No. 9995, or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

She is currently under the custody of the Laoag City Police Station pending inquest proceedings.