The Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental is stepping up its efforts against voyeurism following complaints filed with its office.

Captain Gaudioso Morte, chief of ACG-Negros Oriental, told the Philippine News Agency yesterday that they are handling cases filed by female victims, though he declined to specify how many they are.

Morte said the complainants claimed to be photographed or filmed without their consent, with the digital contents circulated online without their permission.

“According to Republic Act 9995, known as the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, capturing images or videos of a person’s private areas, including breasts, genitals and buttocks, regardless of whether they are covered, is an infringement of privacy without the owner’s consent,” he said.

Morte said an increasing number of women are now knowledgeable about their rights in this context and request the ACG’s help when those rights are breached.

He said combating voyeurism is part of the government’s efforts to address violence against women and children.

Meanwhile, the ACG seized gadgets like cameras, phones and peripherals from an Estonian national in Barangay Cantil-e in Dumaguete City on Saturday, January 10.

The court-authorized seizure stemmed from a complaint filed by a woman against the foreigner who allegedly filmed her and posted the contents on video platform YouTube without her permission.

The woman asked that the post be taken down, to no avail, Morte said. (PNA)