A transgender woman was arrested on Monday, May 20, in Zamboanga City for allegedly being the leader of a criminal gang victimizing foreigners using dating applications to meet possible partners.
The Criminal Intelligence Detection Group (CIDG), in coordination with the PNP Special Action Force, served a warrant of arrest to Mike Ebol, alias Mickey, a transgender woman and resident of Barangay Tetuan in Zamboanga City.
Police Lt. Col. Jynleo Bautista, Criminal investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit-9 chief, said the warrant of arrest was issued by a Luzon judge for kidnapping with ransom and illegal detention.
The suspect was identified as the leader of the Warla Group, a notorious transgender criminal group operating in Luzon and known for victimizing foreigners through dating apps.
Their modus operandi was to chat with foreigners using different dating applications, meet, and illegally detain them.
Their victims include a certain Mike Lee, a Taiwanese businessman, and 17 others.
Ebol, in an interview, denied the accusation against him.
The suspect is detained at the CIDG-RFU 9 for further investigation and proper disposition.