The word "rescued" sounds like that the 4 women, providing the services, were forced to do. If so, no objection of course. But if completely volunteer, still not allowed by PH law!!?? Who knows these women lost their job and seeking for a way to make some money to survive and pay backlog of bills. Transmitting of a virus or any other disease not possible. Since a foreigner is involved, chances are much higher a raid will take place, as happened. So the lesson again, as a foreigner stay away from this kind of business. The Norwegian guy @age of 42 obviously not enough money to get around.
He's being charged with 'qualified trafficking' - 'Any person found guilty of qualified trafficking under Section 6 shall suffer the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of not less than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) but not more than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00)'
I didn't expect this in our lovely Dumaguete, but all in all, cybersex seems to be a national phenomenon; here is an interesting detailed study about cybersex business in the Philippines with case studies. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/j.1681-4835.2015.tb00499.x for some people it might be a good business income option and also better / safer than real sex business, maybe adults should be able to do what they want as long nobody gets hurt and specially no children / minors are involved.
One less piece of garbage. I imagine that picture of him and the 4 yr old will not be on his cell wall.
Unfortunately this is all to common in Dumaguete. I have been approached about half a dozen times over the years to become an investor in similar shady online operations, with every one of them being Norwegian for some odd reason. Easy to spot them as they just vaguely say they "deal with/operate multiple website" (not build, design or program for clients) and any further inquiry usually leads to sidestepping. Twice I was given direct answers stating it was cam websites with BS assurances it was completely legal and a good investment (knowing the idiot that proposed it I have no doubt he actually believed that.) Many of the girls that get caught up in this stuff are coerced into it do to extreme poverty and stay in it due to violent and manipulative pimps, many of which use drug addiction to keep the girls coming back. However, driving it further underground by making it illegal does nothing to help the situation. It needs to be legalized and regulated so that the scum that are currently running these sites are pushed out but that won't happen any time soon in the Philippines.