New modus: Sex, drugs and robbery

A lesser known but effective modus operandi being perpetrated by a holdup gang was uncovered with the arrest of four people, two of them women, yesterday morning in Caloocan City.

The suspects would entice the unsuspecting customer matching him up with a prostitute, provide him with drugs before sex and then threatens report him to the authorities for using drugs or to kill him if he does not part with his cash and valuables.

Senior Superintendent Leo Garra, Caloocan City police chief, identified the suspects as Francia Carillo, 84, landlady, of Bamba compound on 4th Avenue; Janeth Diaz, 20, commercial sex worker renting a room in Carillo’s rundown house; Barry Gabiosa, 21, Diaz’s pimp, all from Caloocan City and Glicerio Alegre, 34, of P. Santos San Juan, Metro Manila. A member of the group identified as Renato Santos eluded arrest.

The suspects were arrested based on a complaint by Edgardo Merillo, 35, a body piercer, of 409 Barangay 73 PNR compound, Heroes del 96 Caloocan City. He allegedly lost over P14,000 in cash and valuables to the group in their latest heist.

Inspector Esperido Realito, Police Community Precinct 5 commander who headed the arresting team, said the incident happened at around 4 a.m. along 3rd and 4th Avenue extension, the city’s red light strip.

Merillo said Gabiosa allegedly offered him sex with Diaz in her house. Despite the running rate of P300 per session, Gabiosa managed to wangle P1,500 from the victim for "guaranteed satisfaction."

Merillo said he was taken by Gabiosa to Carillo’s house where Diaz rents a room for P600 a month. There, Diaz allegedly did a striptease as appetizer. Gabiosa allegedly asked money to buy liquor, but came back with shabu allegedly for better results during sex.

Before he could even undo his pants, Alegre and Santos allegedly barged into the room and announced the holdup threatening to report him to the authorities for possession and use of the illegal drug.

Merillo found an opportunity and made his escape, but still lingered in the area hoping to get back his money. He later personally pounced on Gabiosa, collared him and personally brought him to the police station.

The others were later arrested by PCP 5 operatives.

At the police station, Carillo denied knowing Diaz’s "business," saying she rents out the room because she did not have any means of livelihood.

She said she is also taking care of the son of her daughter working abroad.