Japanese Tourist Allegedly Chased by Four Gay Men After Cebu Motel Encounter
JAPANESE TOURIST – A vacation in Cebu reportedly took a frightening turn for a young Japanese tourist after an encounter with four gay men inside a motel in Barangay Lahug.
A 21-year-old Japanese national reportedly sought police assistance after allegedly being chased by four men following an incident inside a motel in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, in the early hours of September 11, 2026.
The foreigner, identified only as alias “Sanji,” is reportedly a single college student from Japan who arrived in the Philippines on September 8 for a one-week vacation with four friends.
According to the initial investigation by the Mabolo Police Station, Sanji arrived at the police office shortly after 4 a.m., visibly distressed and asking for help. Police reportedly observed that he was wearing only a towel and had several injuries and bruises on his body.
Based on a report from DYHP RMN CEBU, Sanji told authorities that his cellphone and wallet, which contained around P3,000 in cash, had been taken during the incident. He reportedly told investigators that he was threatened by the four men, whom he claimed were carrying weapons and demanded that he comply with their wishes.
Based on his account, Sanji initially met one of the suspects through an online dating application. He said he believed the person he was communicating with was a woman.
The two later agreed to meet and check into a motel in Lahug. While they were inside the room, three other individuals reportedly arrived. Sanji said the unexpected arrival of the three men caused him to become frightened.
He then reportedly fled from the motel room and ran toward the police station with only a towel covering him. During the escape, he allegedly stumbled several times while trying to get away from the group.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and theft remain under investigation as police work to identify and locate the individuals involved.
Despite losing his belongings, Sanji reportedly told authorities that his main concern was recovering his cellphone rather than the cash inside his wallet.
The incident has since drawn attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the foreign visitor’s encounter and his subsequent appeal for police assistance.
Sanji described the experience by saying, “It’s a bad and exciting experience,” reflecting the unusual and distressing nature of what happened during his stay in Cebu.
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