Australian police eyes establishment of cybercrime center in the Philippines

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has signified its interest in putting up a high-tech crime center in the Philippines with the aim of combating cyber pornography in the country and training authorities to effectively monitor cybercrimes.

Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said the AFP has shown much interest in the rising cases of cyber pornography in the country, especially in Cebu to the extent that it has come up with a plan to build a high-tech crime center to be based in Manila. The center will be funded by the AFP and will be used as a training center against cybercrime.

Magpale said it was Federal Agent Michael Kilfoyle who informed her of said plan by the Australian police after personnel from the AFP met with the vice governor to express interest in helping out with the ongoing case involving parents in Cordova town who peddled their minor kids online to foreigners.

She said Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia requested her to ask the Australian police to build the high-tech crime center in Cebu instead of Manila and the governor even offered to donate a building that will be used for the purpose.

“The province is willing to give them a building should they change their plan and build a center in Cebu instead,” said Magpale.

For the past weeks, authorities from the United States of America, Australia, and Sweden have visited Magpale, who co-chairs the Provincial Women’s Council, following the arrest of a couple in Cordova town for allegedly forcing their kids to strip naked in front of web cameras. –MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR., Manila Bulletin