A computer screen, a command is being typed…

obdo inetstat -tulippn 30.0.0.0 limit 72.0.0.0  | grep LISTEN

With that it starts to list IPs.

At the Cyber Crime Unit, Region 7 of the Dakbayan General Directorate.  Major John de la Cruz sits as the acting commander while his chief was recalled to the Directorate General Headquarters (GHQ).

In front of him is a Community Councilor, with a cyber libel complaint. Robert Tan, in his 50s he looks more in his mid 30s.He would be in his early 20s from a teenage girl’s perspective, a total dream boy.

Major de la Cruz: councilor, how are you doing? How can I be of service?

The major smiles, like one of those customer service representatives.

Robert: I have this problem with one of our staff, who insulted me on social media, I want to get rid of her.

And the smile fades.

Major de la Cruz: Whoah! Get rid?

Realizing his wrong choice of words, Robert corrects himself.

Robert: That didn't go well did it?

The Major shook his head in disbelief. As the country is plagued with murders or assassination of suspected drug peddlers to drug lord levels. Plus, he is a distant relative of the country’s leader called a Supreme Datu. Datu Bulawan de la Cruz, the current Supreme Datu, is his father’s fourth cousin, and all of the murders or assassination of high profile criminals are blamed on him.

Major de la Cruz kept his composure, a training that he received from the Dakbayan Directorate Academy.

Major de la Cruz: We are not your henchmen, councilor, and I am not implying anything, but the way you said it, the language it sounds something else. Would you be more specific?

Robert: I'm sorry, that didn't go well. I want to sue her, for defaming me, she called me inutile, a homosexual. I mean I am a married man and with children. I have a wife and children for crying out loud.

Major de la Cruz: Do you have any evidence to support this? What is the person's name and social media page URL?

Robert: Yeah, but she deleted it yesterday. But we were able to get a screenshot of it. And I have witnesses who can attest to my claims.

Major de la Cruz: Normally I do not talk to complainants at this stage. But you being a politician, I am rather or we do give courtesy to our elected officials.

Robert: Thank you major. I was here earlier with Bobby Herasta who entertained me.

Another wrong choice of words by the councilor. But the major was rather amused, than annoyed.

Major de la Cruz: You mean one of our investigators. Senior Police Officer, or rather Sergeant Herasta.

Robert: Yes, I suppose so.

Major de la Cruz: He left to serve an arrest warrant similar to your issue. These guys are seasoned with these crimes, they'll get your guy… or woman.

Robert: Much appreciated major.

Major de la Cruz: Edwin… Can you hand me the councilor's file please?

Sergeant Edwin Berdin, hands over the complaint sheet. He has a dark skin color with a cropped haircut and a mustache. Unlike cops at his age of 31, he is surprisingly not fat, except for the beer gut.

You'll mistake him for a hitman or from the less educated slum area. Who seems to have only mischief and robbery in mind.

Sergeant Berdin: We won't have any progress on this, it would be best if you can give us the suspect's social media URL.

Robert: I do have it, but the screenshot is rather small and difficult to read.

Major de la Cruz: Sergeant Berdin here is our legal encyclopedia when it comes to your case.

Sergeant Berdin: Sir, would it be possible if you could send her page to me through messenger let me retrieve her actual social media page URL.

Robert: yeah sure.

Robert sends it to the investigator as they both exchange their social media accounts.

Robert: I heard you guys went above the passing mark of arrest and convictions last year 2019. So, I feel confident with you guys.

Major de la Cruz: I hate to burst the bubble if there is. But social media companies are not that cooperative, they are a pain.

Sergeant Berdin: In fact, we could not do much when all you have are social media. They hate law enforcement I think, and prefer to support the criminals.

Robert: What do you mean?

Sergeant Berdin, excused himself to check on the suspect's account.

Major de la Cruz: First of all, you said it was deleted, her post. Right? With that we cannot retrieve the post even if Law Enforcement needs it as evidence for prosecution.

Sergeant Berdin came back to the commander's desk as he was just a cubicle away.

Sergeant Berdin: Excuse me sir, the account of Jenny Lynn Villamar is indeed not a fake account. And indeed, we cannot find her post, based on your screenshot that you printed out.

Robert: Even with a court order?

Both policemen nod.

Robert: What about my witnesses.

Major de la Cruz: I think we will need a sworn statement from them.

Sergeant Berdin: Then we can request an arrest warrant, from the Jukom Man.

Robert: I can work that out, give me time to do that over the weekend and I'll get back to you on Monday.

Major de la Cruz: Just come on over and we'll have Berdin here look at your case.

Robert: Thank you major and sergeant.

What a way to start the New Year, a scandal, political drama, what else. Major de la Cruz thought to himself.

Elsewhere in Forge island…

A youth using a deep web browser searches for drugs online. Using the deep web list of websites. There was one that takes orders and deliveries for the entire country and one specifically for the island of Forge.

Unlike most websites that have an extension of dot com or dot net or other dots. This is a dot hideme.

http://395720482649.hideme

The heading for the site is 'Herbs, Organics, Synths and more.'

The website is designed like it was the early 2000 and late 90s design. But the site goes straight to the point. All of its products are laid out, and payment is in Bitcoin. It also has a shipping price list for the minimum order to the maximum order limit.

There is a filter drop down on top of the product list for product categories. He clicks on the select drop down and the categories are herbal, acids, synthetic and other organics. He clicks the herbs category.

And several pakame product packages are listed. Each with its own nickname or branding, and on the description column the amount of EphC.

He makes a test buy.

Then it gives him a privacy statement.

We recognize your privacy you may not enter your real name when purchasing our specialized herbal tea. But do take note of your name used.

It would be best to use a separate phone number, for your security and privacy.

Please always wait for the courier to text and deliver.

He clicks on ok to the Privacy Statement. Then it takes him to the form payment page.

He types Katok Iskalon, and cell number 09174218601, his current phone number, then he types in his home address and email address. On the form there is a checkbox that says 'This is my first purchase here'. He checks then click the submit button.

He is sent to the successfully purchased page with a message.

'Thank you for the support! Your herbal tea will be delivered. Please wait for a confirmation email.'

He receives an alert from his HyperMail. He opens the email. It says:

It is important that you read all of this.

We truly respect your privacy and thus recommend that you have a burner phone and have a separate and dedicated email apart from your standard business email.

This is to ensure that you will immediately read our alerts.

Not responding to our email in an hour voids your purchase, and is not refundable.

Please accomplish the email address the least. If this is the email address that you desire, you do not need to change anything.

Please take note or print this email as your reference of your account name and password.

Acct Name: iskatok20210108

Password:qw&(op82^!

Click here to go to your account profile.

He drills down on the link and is sent to an account profile page. He confirms the account settings of email address and phone number by clicking on the confirm button below the form.

While he was sent to the confirmation page, another email arrived. After confirmation he is sent to another thank you page.

Seeing another alert from his HyperMail. He opens the email with the subject, 'Delivery Instructions'.

This is your Reference # HRB0002021115mj

A courier will deliver a key for a business box, you can claim your product once the courier has given you the key.

Please read the instructions that come with the key.

Thank you for your support!

Outgoing commander of the Cybercrime Unit 7 Col. Appolonio Masangcay, attends his last command conference at the General Directorate Regional Office, Camp Jonas. He explains how Forge Island is a lot safer when it comes to cybercrime.

Col. Masangcay: RD (jargon for regional director), gentlemen and ladies. Cybercrime may have risen to 42% in the region, of the three island governments, Forge Island has the highest while to the west barely 1% for Black Oriental Island and the east a measly 5% in Hillyland Island. People should not be alarmed, or panic. We have solved 89% of the cases. We have the highest conviction rate. Forge Island is still relatively more secure and safer, because of our unit’s conviction and resolve.

RD Mantos: Good job, by the way, your unit has outdone itself. But safer, is it? When it is 42% higher.

Assistant Regional Director Lucille Montilla interjects.

ARD Montilla : RD if you may, and your indulgence, might I add to what you have just mentioned.

RD Mantos nods.

ARD Montilla: The RD and I have discussed how we must report this. I guess to paraphrase it. Is Central Dakbayan safe for cyber business? Since businesses these days are transacted in cyberspace. And cybercrime has risen.

Col. Masangcay: I must agree that it has risen. We can assure the taxpayers that their police are working hard, with the 89% score. However, we must educate the public on the signs of online scams. This way we can prevent our citizens from falling into scams. Public awareness is the key. Most of our issues are cyber libel. We do have a lot of scams. But we have traced a lot of them. Our difficulty is the cooperation of all of the social media companies with law enforcement. Most of the scams are usually done through social media companies. In the end to make our cyber community safer educating the citizens on the signs of illegal business or dubious enterprises should be a must. We must emphasize that prevention is better. And accentuate further that by prevention they will not be annoyed by the problems that come after becoming a victim of online scams.

ARD Montilla looks at her superior, RD Mantos. She could clearly picture out his face lost in the words of Colonel Masangcay.

ARD Montilla: My apologies colonel, but what really makes Forge Island safer?

Col. Masangcay smiles, with his teeth that seem to gleam and sparkle. As he boasts his white teeth to the ARD. And raises his right hand with a thumbs up. As he puts his hand back down, he responds.

Col. Masangcay: 89%. To put it bluntly 89% solved cases. On the increase in cybercrime rate, 9% is unsolved. From the previous two years of cybercrimes, we have mostly solved them last year and only 2% is still ongoing.

RD Mantos: That seems promising, but the rate increase is astronomical in my book. Why do you think it's that, that, do we have some specificity on the actual crimes?

ARD Montilla: What we have right now here are simply statistics, well general statistics. We would like to see the breakdown.

Col. Masangcay: Certainly, the breakdown of such crimes is in my brief. Of which I have already submitted to the Regional Directorate Director’s office for photocopying. I have also submitted my electronic copy. I am unaware of how many to print out, I am confident that the Director’s staff is more knowledgeable than I on that matter.

The command structure of the Regional Directorate, has the standard or typical to most armies. We have the Human Resource Office or Oscar 1(O1), Information Office - Oscar 2(O2), Operations Office - Oscar 3(O3), Logistics - Oscar 4(O4), Research and Development - Oscar 5(O5), Communications - Oscar 6(O6).

These offices are all interdependent, divisions of criminal units and patrols units are all under them. However, for the consolidation of action it is the O3 that decides on the protocols, with approval from the Regional Director.

O5 Chief, Col. Julian Black or JB to his friends, questions Col. Masangcay. He raises his hand to call the attention of the RD.

Col. JB: RD, General may I rephrase or rather perhaps ask another question in lieu with all of this buck passing and long speeches, we sound like politicians.

RD Mantos: By all means JB, shoot.

Col. JB: Col. Masangcay, on paper, I mean I have read your brief, but all in all it does not really tell us that it is truly safe or safer whichever word or adjective you are using. And yet this can either be subjective or objective. It looks quite objective on paper, but I am lost in a quagmire with the rising crime. That it makes this objective looking paper on safety of the region a mere subjective one.

Col. Masangcay: I am also lost as to what you are saying can you be more specific.

Col. JB: I would like to know who the victims were, what is their occupation?

Col. Masangcay: You are referring to victimology? I am afraid I do not have data on it. Can I have my subordinate submit them? I am due to leave for GHQ tomorrow. The only thing that comes to mind, that probably we have more people at home out of job perhaps and are looking for a quick buck. These are usually people who are not used to the dynamics of the cybercommunities.

Col. JB: For now, what are your suggestions?

Col. Masangcay: Massive communication. We need to create a message of warning to the citizens and we need all of our police force to send this out to all of their friends and relatives. The social media companies will only tear down our sites and accuse it of being false or fake accounts while the culprits get away. I think with each of our individual police doing this we can beat the social media ban against law enforcement. Our number one problem is ‘The Dag Way’, of course they are not based here we are having difficulty with them.

Col. JB: RD, I have no more questions General. But may we request CCU7 to submit the victims’ current occupation, so that we here in research can look for a way to look into the victimology.

RD Mantos: I think we need to go now into the next unit, thank you for the report Col. Masangcay and congratulations on your promotion. Can you order your subordinate to submit a spreadsheet on that? But I think you are leaving; can you have them call O5 to get the details of what they need. One more thing, Major de la Cruz is being promoted to Lt. Colonel, he will be sitting in as an actual commander not an Acting OIC effective tomorrow, be sure to tell him that. I have his orders here and from GHQ on his promotion. He will receive this tomorrow including his Two Suns insignia, I think as a courtesy to his promotion as well as yours, make this a parting gift to him, I’d like you to hand a copy of this to him.

The General hands it to his secretary and in turn he hands it to Col. Masangcay.

Col. Masangcay: Thank you sir.

The command conference dragged on for four more hours, by noon Col. Masangcay leaves the command conference because his flight was around three in the afternoon. With him is a manila envelope. His former office is along the way towards the airport. He drops by.

Major de la Cruz sees his former commander, he stands up from his table and salutes him, and he salutes back.

Major de la Cruz: It is good to see you sir, you seemed to have left me with a lot of pickles to handle. I don’t know if I can handle this. I thought you have left.

Col. Masangcay: I would have, but the order for the command conference came about a week ago and the order for me to leave for GHQ came only two days ago, and I am forced to attend, because they were looking for me.

Major de la Cruz: You could’ve just left.

Col. Masangcay: Yeah, I would, but the General wanted me there, and I don’t want to anger anyone lest I lose my star tomorrow.

Major de la Cruz: ¡Ah! You're getting a promotion, you're a general now? You could have just left.

Col. Masangcay: Yeah, I don’t want to pre-empt anyone. And I guess I would not be able to hand you this.

Col. Masangcay hands him the manila envelope, Major de la Cruz opens it and reads the first paper. His eyes widened, then his brows started to draw together. The body contents read as:

That subject, Lt. Col. John de la Cruz, is hereby ordered as commander of CCU7. And will begin effectively January 18, 2021.

With a quizzical look upon the first paper, he reads the second paper, this one is from the Adjutant General GHQ, orders were that he is promoted to Lt. Colonel effective January 11, 2021.

Then he stares straight blankly opposite to him.

Col. Masangcay: The general says, think of it as my parting gift, I guess GHQ agreed with my assessment of you. Congratulations Lt. Colonel.

Major de la Cruz: Thank you sir.

Col. Masangcay: Frankly John, I didn’t make a lot of comments on you, I made it simple, I wonder why they did, the other junior officers under me back then never got the promotion. Maybe I should not use a lot of words next time. I am truly glad that it is you. Now, be so kind, and have someone drive me to the airport, I got a cab coming here and you know how taxis are.

Major de la Cruz: Sure thing sir right away. Baltazaar! Wait, hold on general.

Lt. Col de la Cruz picks up his phone and calls his secretary and starts to bark some orders.

Col. Masangcay: John, maybe you should check it out on our circulation.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Yeah right.

And there it was in his inbox his promotion orders, and his orders for his command, which was a revision from what he has. The orders were effective immediately and signed today while on paper that he got was signed last week.

Col. Masangcay: The General says those papers were not the official one, he says the official one will be sent tomorrow. But the promotion might be official though.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Yeah, the orders here are different, it says effective immediately.

Col. Masangcay: Congratulations commander.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Thank you sir.

The commander’s service car arrives and they both walk outside as they bid their farewells.

Tuesday, the assumption of Lt. Col. John de la Cruz as the commander of CCU7, and his promotion. There was no need for any endorsement from the previous commander. His former commander was promoted and he, the next in command became the acting commander or the OIC (officer in charge).

With a radiant smile he sits at the commander’s desk, while he awaits for three more new subordinate commissioned officers. No turn over formalities, he thinks.

They just started to train three more new Non-commissioned Officers to his office. And he is the only commissioned officer in his unit. And the complaints continue to come, one after another, and only one window, one officer each time to listen to the complainants.

Thinking to himself, well John you're a Lt. Colonel, and you stand alone to bear all these problems. Boy what a pickle you are in.

Synod Community

The smallest unit of government in Dakbayan, is called the Haop, literally it means territory. In fact it is traditionally the first unit of government back then.

In modern times the country has adopted English as the national language they now simply call it community. The smallest community then was at least a hundred people, now, it is simply called a village.

The village can be up to a thousand families, regardless of the population ratio. And a community can be up to a hundred families.

The community leader is called a datu, a datu is directly selected by the community, to be a datu you first have to win a council seat. The community elects thirteen council members, after this election they hold another election to elect a datu among the thirteen.

At the Synod Community, an arbitration meeting is called by councilman Robert Tan. Defendant is Jenny Lynn Villamar. The complaint is libel. The meeting is usually informal since this is more of an arbitration.

In cases that are not criminal in nature, or at best not an ongoing robbery or murder, it is procedure to start at the community level. Simply because it is the first unit of government.

Robert Tan arrives, along with his witnesses and another co-worker who fought against Ms. Villamar. The mediator is usually a respected community member and is the community's equivalent to a sitting judge of the judiciary.

Mediators are chosen either by lot or by direct assignment when needed. The mediator Joseph Liston drew the short end of the straw and was assigned as their mediator.

Joseph Liston sits on the mediator’s chair at the center of the small room’s far end. While the aggrieved party sits on his right and the defendant sits to his left. Both parties like in a regular court face the magistrate, in this case the mediator.

Joseph Liston: I see councilor you have arrived and everyone seems to be here except for our defendant. We will observe the rules we shall wait for the defendant for an hour, until then we shall wait.

Councilman Tan: Mediator Liston, this is the third meeting that we have set and she seems to be uninterested or she is making a mockery of this meeting. I have brought my witness here again can we not just proceed with the proceedings.

Joseph Liston: There will be no proceedings to mediate until the other party has arrived. As the rule says one hour. Indeed, this will be the last meeting and thus if she will not arrive we will proceed with the meeting in her absence.

Councilman Tan: Very well let us wait for her.

Camp Maxim

Meanwhile back at Camp Maxim, where the CCU7 is holding office. A minor accompanied by her parents makes a complaint to the police.

The desk Sergeant, Edwin Berdin listens to their issue.

Mr. Oscar Marcon with his wife Belinda and seventeen year old daughter, Suzee are all seated in front of him.

Sgt. Berdin: Good Morning ma'am, sir, and miss, how may I be of assistance today?

It took them a while to speak up, it is as if they are ashamed or frightened. But Oscar Marcon found a little courage to speak.

Mr. Marcon: Good morning sir… I do not know how to begin this. But my daughter might not be the best person in the world, but she has been receiving messages.

Mrs. Marcon: They are not nice messages, officer.

Sgt. Berdin: Okay. Can you tell me a little about this message? How was this sent?

Suzee: Email.

Sgt. Berdin: Can I read the email?

Mrs. Marcon: Yes, officer we printed it out, here it is.

Sgt. Berdin, reads the mail alright but it seems like it was printed out directly from a browser. There were telltale signs of bullying, threat of murder and rape. The words were quite vulgar, and the way it was worded out was like the sender was familiar with the daughter.

Sgt. Berdin: Do you know who sent this letter?

Mr. Marcon, with excitement and eagerness.

Mr. Marcon: You bet we do. It’s this stupid guy. Dudley, he is such a dud man!

Sgt. Berdin: How do you know?

Mr. Marcon: Who else would it be, he’s the guy who always comes along and sees her.

Sgt. Berdin: That is not evidence sir, we cannot take that to court, even the letter you printed out will not stand in court.

Mr. Marcon, incensed at the sergeants reply, with a loud voice he replies.

Mr. Marcon: You’ve got some nerve to tell us that, you’re nothing but a lowly policeman, I want someone I can talk sense to.

Sgt. Berdin: I am afraid that is not going to help your case if you have any.

Meanwhile at the CCU7 commander’s office, Officer Nuñez, informs the new commander of a phone call from the office of Gen. Mantos.

Nuñez: Excuse me Colonel sir, the Regional Director’s office is on the line.

Unlike the bigger units like the Narcotics command and the Criminal Intelligence Investigation Detection command have trunklines. They only have two landline phones, one that you see in public where they meet complaints and the other inside where it is common to all the members of the unit.

Lt. Colonel de la Cruz picks his phone up.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Hello, Lt. Col de la Cruz speaking.

His secretary replaces the phone handset back down.

RD Ofc. Secretary: Sir, let me put you on hold. The General will be with you in a moment.

Brig. Gen. Severio Mantos, picks up his phone and with a happy face he speaks into it.

RD Mantos: Hello John, I hope you are settling in. How is the helm by the way?

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Same old same old. At least there is nothing that we cannot handle yet.

RD Mantos: I am glad that you are settling in I suppose. Will you be making changes to your procedures there?

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Not at the time being. We should be prepared to change tactics.

RD Mantos: Is there anything that you need from me?

Lt. Col de la Cruz: There is one… well two actually.

RD Mantos: Name it, and I’ll see what I can do about it.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: For starters, a better phone system. I know it is trivial. Second, I think the priority should be someone who knows computers to work here. Hell, we don’t even know what we are doing half the time. For crying out loud we are cops in the first place and not tech geeks.

RD Mantos: You see John, that is what I like about you. You go straight to the point. Your predecessor was a little too flowery. I cannot understand him more than half the time. I could probably get the first one up, no promises on the second one. Blame it on the House of Datus if you must.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Thank you General.

RD Mantos : So, when can you come up here and we’ll have some coffee?

Lt. Col de la Cruz: I’d love to right away sir, but you know how it is sometimes. When you leave the fort and all our customers see is an NCO, they’d start mocking them if they don’t get what they want.

RD Mantos: Sounds like you are having one now. Are you?

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Yeah, I guess you got me there. He is loud and quite condescending.

RD Mantos: I hate to break it to you John, you will lose those two NCOs of yours, Berdin and Herasta.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: You transferred them? No did GHQ?

RD Mantos: No, no, not what I meant. Sorry to give you that conspiracy in your head. Academy graduates have this sensation that they deserve a better unit. Well, a juicy and less pain in the neck post. Unlike your batch. This must be some generational issue that we have. I am looking for a few more about five or ten. I’ll have my staff send you the orders, GHQ has given the approval and it is official. Berdin and Herasta are your Lieutenants, making them Detective Inspectors. You’ll need to find someone that you can trust as your deputy, give me a list and I’ll have a look at it.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: Thank you general. You almost gave me a heart attack; I can’t lose two of my best legal minds here. I think it’s a loss and a win. More importantly it is a gain.

RD Mantos: See you later John.

Both men put their handsets down. With that Lt. Col de la Cruz, gets up from his desk and goes to the main office area.

Lt. Col de la Cruz: So! What seems to be the problem here Lt. Berdin.

Wide eyed Berdin turns his head around.

Lt. Berdin: Nothing that we cannot resolve sir.

Mr. Marcon, aghast at what he heard from the commander.