Dating site operators post bail

WE’RE INNOCENT. Alleged cyberporn operators Mei Yi and Joy Vitor (face covered) swear to reporters they did not commit the crime they were accused of. (we’re innocent. Alleged cyberporn operators Mei Yi and Joy Vitor (face covered) swear to reporters they did not commit the crime they were accused of.
we’re innocent. Alleged cyberporn operators Mei Yi and Joy Vitor (face covered) swear to reporters they did not commit the crime they were accused of. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

The two women who were purportedly involved in online cyberpornography of a call center stepped out of jail yesterday afternoon.

Mei Yee, the Chinese owner of Filipino Heart Internet Consultant (FHIC), and manager Ligaya Vitor posted bail of P200,000 each after charges of violating Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 were filed before the Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

RTC Executive Judge Soliver Peras ordered the release of Yee and Vitor at around 3 p.m. yesterday.

Assistant City Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro decided to elevate the charges to the RTC after the two accused opted not to undergo a preliminary investigation which could have given them a chance to submit their counter-affidavits and refute the allegations.

However, the separate cases for estafa filed against the two will undergo the regular preliminary investigation before the prosecutors’ office.

DENIAL

Lee said they intend to file countercharges against the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police who arrested them last Sunday.

“I’ll sue back all those persons who put us in this situation,” Lee said.

She said the police doesn’t have enough evidence to prove that they are guilty of human trafficking and cyberpornography.

“They need to pay for all the damages they did to us,” Lee said.

Vitor, on the other hand, reiterated claims that they are innocent of the accusations leveled by the police.

The call center company owned by Lee purportedly matches Filipina models with foreign clients.

Senior Insp. Michael Virtudazo of the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group said the call center company invited Filipino women to pose for a photo shoot and post their pictures and their personal information in separate individual online accounts.

He said idateasia.com, which posts sexy pictures of Filipino women, is a paid dating site targeting foreigners wishing to marry Southeast Asian women.

The law prohibits the practice of matching Filipino women for marriage to foreigners on a mail-order basis.

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