Man arrested for raping would-be girl recruits in Manila
Published Sep 24, 2025 11:09 am
A 36-year-old man was nabbed by the Manila Police District (MPD) for raping, threatening, and coercing three minor girls into joining his fake gang in Sampaloc, Manila. His cohort was also arrested for bringing the girl recruits and for acting as a lookout.
According to the authorities, two girls aged 13 and 14, reported the suspect's abuse and modus operandi while he was planning to recruit another minor to the fake gang.
The police said the suspect targets young girls on social media to join his gang, falsely promising them of sisterhood and security protection when the need arises.
Once the girl joins his gang, he will make her choose between "hirap" or "sarap" to finish the initiation rites.
If she chooses "hirap," the suspect will beat her up until her face gets swollen beyond recognition. However, if she chooses "sarap," he will rape the victim, promising her instant membership to the gang.
The suspect also brands his "members" on their hands with a cigarette butt as a sign of being included in the fake gang.
After the police verified the victims' report and the suspect's identity, an entrapment operation was quickly launched for the suspect's arrest at a motel where he was about to rape another minor victim.
As the police approached the motel, the suspect's 42-year-old cohort who was serving as a lookout outside the establishment notified him of the police's presence. The suspect tried to escape.
A foot chase ensued before he was cornered by the police after slipping and spraining his ankle.
Further investigation revealed that the lookout was the one who would bring the recruits to the motel to be raped by the suspect.
The MPD said charges for rape, grave coercion, violation of the anti-hazing act, violation of the cybercrime prevention act of 2012, and violation of the anti-trafficking of persons act are being readied against the two suspects who are now detained at the MPD Custodial Facility.