(Update) NBI nabs boybastos.com alleged operator in Ayala Alabang raid
09/07/2007 | 09:31 PM
National Bureau of Investigation agents on Friday raided a house in Ayala Alabang that was allegedly being used in the operation of the Philippine-based Internet pornography site boybastos.com.
The raid came two days after Sen. Loren Legarda urged authorities to shut down the Web site, which is allegedly involved in trafficking women.
GMA News’ 24 Oras reported Friday night that NBI agents invited the lone occupant of the house, Mark Verzo, 28, for fingerprinting and questioning.
Verzo said he violated no law and told GMA News: “Freedom of expression lang ang lahat (This is all about freedom of expression)."
Palmer Mallari of the NBI’s antifraud and computer crimes division said investigators expect to gather more pieces of evidence on the operation of boybastos.com from the seized computers.
Mallari said the raiders were armed with a search warrant that was issued by a court he did not mention.
The NBI said experts managed to zero in on Verzo’s residence as the boybastos.com place of operation through the electronic trail left by the Web site’s electronic address.
In the raid, NBI agents also seized other electronic equipment believed used in the maintenance of the Web site.
NBI agents said investigators are studying what case would be filed against Verzo although they admitted there is no law yet against internet pornography in the Philippines.
Free access to lewd material
Legarda pushed Wednesday for authorities to shut down boybastos.com for giving free access to lewd material.
Legarda said in a statement that boybastos.com is "by far the filthiest Internet site we've come across" as it offers obscene videos and photos.
"Our biggest worry here is free access. Other adult sites at least require prior user registration and credit cards, which somehow helps screen or discourage minors," she said.
Legarda urged the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) and the NBI to shut down the site, which she called "the premier bastos portal of the Philippines."
Legarda asked the NBI to look into the possibility of cyber-sex operators behind the website to "lure potential customers that can be directed to link paid services."
She said administrators of the website "have evidently also been investing large sums, entering paid porn sites abroad, downloading for a fee some of the materials, and then posting them on boybastos.com for all to see."
Worse, she said the porn site encourages visitors to freely contribute their own videos, including so-called sex scandal videos.
Legarda authored Senate Bill 1375, which seeks to punish peddlers of online porn and indecent materials with up to six years in prison and a fine of P500,000. - GMANews.TV
The raid came two days after Sen. Loren Legarda urged authorities to shut down the Web site, which is allegedly involved in trafficking women.
GMA News’ 24 Oras reported Friday night that NBI agents invited the lone occupant of the house, Mark Verzo, 28, for fingerprinting and questioning.
Verzo said he violated no law and told GMA News: “Freedom of expression lang ang lahat (This is all about freedom of expression)."
Palmer Mallari of the NBI’s antifraud and computer crimes division said investigators expect to gather more pieces of evidence on the operation of boybastos.com from the seized computers.
Mallari said the raiders were armed with a search warrant that was issued by a court he did not mention.
The NBI said experts managed to zero in on Verzo’s residence as the boybastos.com place of operation through the electronic trail left by the Web site’s electronic address.
In the raid, NBI agents also seized other electronic equipment believed used in the maintenance of the Web site.
NBI agents said investigators are studying what case would be filed against Verzo although they admitted there is no law yet against internet pornography in the Philippines.
Free access to lewd material
Legarda pushed Wednesday for authorities to shut down boybastos.com for giving free access to lewd material.
Legarda said in a statement that boybastos.com is "by far the filthiest Internet site we've come across" as it offers obscene videos and photos.
"Our biggest worry here is free access. Other adult sites at least require prior user registration and credit cards, which somehow helps screen or discourage minors," she said.
Legarda urged the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) and the NBI to shut down the site, which she called "the premier bastos portal of the Philippines."
Legarda asked the NBI to look into the possibility of cyber-sex operators behind the website to "lure potential customers that can be directed to link paid services."
She said administrators of the website "have evidently also been investing large sums, entering paid porn sites abroad, downloading for a fee some of the materials, and then posting them on boybastos.com for all to see."
Worse, she said the porn site encourages visitors to freely contribute their own videos, including so-called sex scandal videos.
Legarda authored Senate Bill 1375, which seeks to punish peddlers of online porn and indecent materials with up to six years in prison and a fine of P500,000. - GMANews.TV
