Nathaniel Espia was nabbed by the authorities outside the pier.
NATHANIEL ESPIA – The authorities arrested a 35-year-old man from Cebu, Nathaniel Espia, who set to meet his 12-year-old girlfriend.
Based on a recent news report in Phil Star Global, the father of the seventh grader has previously asked for the help of the police authorities after he knew that his 12-year-old daughter tried to board a ship bound for Cebu last month.
However, the authorities of the port did not allow her travel after they found out that no one was with her and she was not able to give a clearance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) considering that she is a minor.
According to the news report, Nathaniel Espia was arrested by the authorities on Wednesday in Manila after he met his young girlfriend. They met each other at a fastfood restaurant which is located outside of the Pier 4.
The police said that Espia was from Cebu and he supposedly came in Manila to fetch his 12-year-old girlfriend and ‘elope with her.’
Based on the report, the 12-year-old girl, speaking to The Star, expressed that it was on the 26th day of January when she and Espia became friends on Facebook. Since that day, they usually communicate with each other.
The girl expressed that at first, she presented herself as 17-years-old to Espia and the man claimed that he is 25-years-old. It was weeks after they regularly communicate with each other that they opened up about their real age.
According to the girl, the gap in their age did not seem to bother them as they love each other.
The girl claimed that Espia told her that he would take care of her and send her to school if she would be with him in Cebu.
“On Feb. 20, he sent me P1,300 for my ticket and instructed me to buy it only from 2Go. Last March 5 I tried to board the ship but I was not allowed,” she shared.
According to the seventh grader’s father, due to what Espia has been telling to her daughter, she stopped schooling and was not able to tell where the money allocated for her tuition fee in school went.
Speaking to The Star, the girl said that she has sent some money to her boyfriend – not less than twice.
According to Chief Inspector Rizalino Ibay Jr., the leader of the team who nabbed Espia, the man is now faced with human trafficking and anti-child abuse law charges.
The authorities, after taking the phone of Espia, found out that he has been communicating with other several females.