MANILA -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has leads on the suspect in the viral spread of private videos of band vocalist Chito Miranda and his girlfriend Neri Naig.
Following the release of a second sex video supposedly showing Miranda with Naig, the NBI on Tuesday said its investigation into the case has made progress.
Miranda first brought the case to NBI on August 12, a week after the initial clip showing him and Naig having sex made the rounds online. At the time, the Parokya ni Edgar singer said he lost his hard drive, which contained the video files, in a theft.
Referring to the case, NBI Cybercrime Division chief Vic Lorenzo said, "So far, may mga leads, and actually meron na lang kaming isang hard drive na hinihintay."
"We are also coordinating with counterparts abroad to finally pinpoint 'yung source nung medyo compromising na video clip na first," he told ABS-CBN News' Niko Baua.
Lorenzo said he is inclined to believe that both sex videos were uploaded by the same suspect, but added the investigation has yet to establish links.
"Ang theory namin is iisa lang ang source. Itong part one na sinasabi nila, baka siya din ang source... Kaya lang noong nag-focus kami sa part two ng video, ili-link pa namin 'yan. Kasi we only started following some leads doon sa part two yesterday," he said.
Anonymity as roadblock
Noting the investigation is still ongoing, Lorenzo admitted tracking down suspects in internet-related cases has proven difficult compared to other crimes.
"'Yung idea kasi, alam mo kung sino nag-upload. Proving it is another thing. Doon ang challenges natin, to prove na siya talaga ang nag-upload, or author nung uploading ng video," he said.
The NBI official also pointed to the anonymity that internet users can afford in explaining why cybercrime cases can be difficult to handle.
He went on to emphasize that those found guilty of violating Republic Act 9995, or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, may be imprisoned for a minimum of three years to a maximum of seven years.
"Unang-una kasi, hindi mo regulated ang internet. Anybody could use the power of the internet, leverage on the power of Internet to create anonymity. Hindi mo malalaman kung sino, 'yun ang mga challenges namin.
"Hindi katulad sa mga ordinary crimes na may footprints, fingerprints na mare-recover ka physically. Ito, ang investigation mo, you're tracing 'yung origin or culprit or the one who upload the video on cyberspace. Hindi sa real world," he said.
