CIDG nabs wanted ‘sextortionist’ in Iloilo City

ILOILO City – Operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)Iloilo City Field Unit ( CFU) arrested a man charged with violation of Section 5( h) of Republic Act ( RA) 9262, or the Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004.

The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Elijo Sharon Herrera- Bellones of the Regional Trial Court Branch 6 in Iloilo City.

According to the police, suspect John Federick Escare created multiple fictitious Facebook accounts and used them to chat with several women – both young and mature.

Escare, 28, allegedly lured his victims by befriending them and later invited them to meet up with him. Once the victim fell into his sweettalking, Escare brought his victims to a motel and had sex with them.

Police said he would record the act and use it to blackmail the victims by threatening to upload their sex videos if they refused to meet up and have sex with him again.

Escare’s arrest was realized after he agreed to meet up again with his supposed target, which turned out to be a police asset.

Temporarily residing in Barangay Airport, Mandurriao district, he was supposed to meet with his next victim along Iznart Street, Iloilo City at around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 25.

Patrolwoman Kay F. Becida, of the CIDG- Iloilo CFU, told Panay News they have been monitoring the activities of Escare since 2023. Becida said they used a female decoy to catch the elusive accused.

Initially, Becida said she chatted with Escare and agreed to meet with him. But the accused later withdrew after sensing she was a law enforcer. Then, the police agreed to use another female decoy, which the accused agreed to meet up with which led to his arrest.

B e c i d a s a i d E s c a r e victimized several women whom he even impregnated. The victims feared reporting to authorities because Escare reportedly threatened to upload their sex videos online should they come out and