Fake Recruiter Arrested for Rape, Extortion of Would-Be OFWs
Government agents on Thursday arrested in an entrapment operation a self-styled recruiter accused of rape and extortion, according to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras.”
Ricardo Arguero would allegedly lure his victims through Facebook by offering them jobs abroad, said Darwin Francisco, special investigator for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
He would then allegedly rape the victim and blackmail her with forcibly recorded sex tapes.
“Ang violations nitong suspect natin na nahuli sa isang entrapment operation kanina, ay una yung Republic Act 8042. Dito papasok yung illegal recruitment. Estafa, Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, robbery-extortion. Kakasuhan din natin siya ng rape, six counts,” Francisco said.
One of Arguero’s victims identified only as Lani said she was looking for a job in Singapore when the suspect approached her through Facebook with an offer for an Internet shop server position in Alaska that pays P40,000 per month.
At a hotel in Cubao, Arquero reportedly took pictures of her passport and a fee of P12,000 before forcing her to drink white tablets suspected to be Ecstasy.
“Sabi niya sa akin, sa wakas makakatikim na naman ako… Nung pinainom niya sa ‘kin ‘yun, naghubad na siya. Nung nakainom na ‘ko, parang nawala na ‘ko sa sarili ko,” Lani said in the report.
Arquero then videotaped the act and used the footage to extort money and seek further sexual encounters from Lani, the report said.
When Lani failed to give money in December, he sent his latest footage along with death threats to the her family.
“Yung anak ko hindi na ako kinakausap. Sobrang sakit po,” Lani said.
Arquero admitted to uploading the sex tape but insisted that his encounters with Lani were consensual as they were supposedly in love.
“‘Di ko ginahasa. Yung ginahasa, talagang merong pasa-pasa, ‘yung rape kung ano talagang nangyari… Parang trip-trip lang ho, yung pagu-upload ko doon,” he said. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News