MANILA, Philippines - Following a month of surveillance that ended last week, the National Bureau of Investigation raided American Chat Link Inc., a call center that allegedly operated as a cybersex den in Pasig City.
Lawyer Angelito Magno, chief of the NBI-SAU, said American Chat Link took part in creating and enhancing pornographic websites, online dating and selling memberships. He said the company was incorporated to operate as a call center.
"But apparently, [being a call center] was only a disguise for its real [business] of providing obscene and immoral pornographic materials for exhibition to foreign and local clients, most of whom were elderly men," Magno added.
NBI Special Action Unit agents raided American Chat Link on Dec. 12, having obtained a search warrant from Pasig City Judge Rodolfo Bonifacio. Unit officers said the company's operators could be charged with violation of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code (Immoral doctrines, obscene publication, exhibition and indecent shows) or Republic Act 8792.
Items seized included 155 computers allegedly used for online pornography, 12 Internet hubs, several Internet servers and documents, including a list of more than 200 adult sites allegedly used in the illegal operation. Magno said computer hard drives are being examined by the NBI Anti-Fraud and Computer Crimes Division.
Cybersex-den operators sell memberships to adult websites and charge customers through credit cards. Magno said American Chat Link's clients were charged a $5 subscription fee for 24-hour access.
American Chat Link has more than 400 employees working four shifts.
