Pinay, 64, loses P3.2M to Nigerian ‘loverboy’

BY AARON B. RECUENCO

Love is blind – sometimes.

This was the case of a 64-year-old Filipina from Quezon City whose social media love affair with a 26-year-old Nigerian made her poorer by P3.2 million.

Good thing, she got her revenge. Through the help of the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Nigerian “lover boy” identified as Evans Amara Okeke was finally arrested.

PNP chief Debold Sinas said Tuesday that Okeke was nabbed along with two other suspects, Nigerian Chidiebere Junior Ezema and Filipina Judy Ann Japitana when operatives raided their place in Las Piñas City.

During the investigation, the victim told ACG personnel that she first met Okeke in social media.

She added that Okeke used an account name of Michael Gerald.

Reportedly, Okeke used another photo for his profile picture. Okeke claimed that he is an engineer based abroad and is set to come to the Philippines to build a mall in San Fernando, La Union.

“They started to exchange messages online until they got into a relationship,” said Sinas.

That relationship resulted in the victim being duped to send her lover with money several times until it reached P3.23 million.

“The victim later found out that her lover is a fraud and she immediately sought the assistance of the police,” said Sinas.

Sinas said the three were arrested using a search warrant at Room 3, 47 Kasoy St., in Verdant Acre Subdivision in Las Piñas City after ACG operatives tracked down their location.

They are now facing violation of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code (Swindling/Estafa) in relation to Section 5(a) and (b) and Section 6 of Republic Act 10175 also known as “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012”.