The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a man in an entrapment operation on Friday for allegedly extorting money from a person with disability (PWD).
The suspect was identified as John Tupaz, ABS-CBN News reported. Tupaz and the unidentified victim were friends, according to the report. The victim has a learning disability and a speech impairment.
The victim’s mother discovered that Tupaz had allegedly been extorting money from his son since 2017 that amounts to PHP200,000 (US$3,807.73), radio station RMN reported.
“My son was taken advantage of because he’s a PWD,” the victim’s mother told ABS-CBN News’ TV Patrol in Filipino. “He gives [money] easily, maybe because he also wants to have friends.”
She added that her son also learned how to lie because of the suspect. She said: “My son sold two watches. He also pawned my husband’s three rings.”
It all started when Tupaz allegedly pressured the victim into giving money for the former’s basketball team.
Tupaz also allegedly threatened the victim, saying that he will tell on him to his mother if he didn’t give more money.
Some friend that guy is.
Tupaz begged not to be thrown in jail and said that he’ll pay back all the money, the ABS-CBN News report added. He said he only did it because his mother and child fell sick.
“That’s why I became stressed, I didn’t know where to find money,” Tupaz said in Filipino.
Despite his reasoning, the victim’s mother said she will file charges against the suspect for robbery and extortion.
