For the fifth time, John “Sweet” Lapus’ poser, Jose Kenneth Dayrit, duped a clueless individual who wanted a shot in show business.

A Leonard Marvin Cruz, the victim, alleged that the imposter offered him to do an indie film called “Binyag,” produced by a certain Danny Labra.

“Ang in-introduce po niya John Lapus talaga. Naniniwala naman ako dahil sa bahay talaga ni Tito Danny Labra ginawa. Nag-audition ako at sabay nakuha. Ang in-offer po niya ‘yung indie film nga po na ‘Binyag’ po. Tapos meron pa pong sinabi na indie film na ‘Onse’,” he narrated.

From the period of February 26 to March 1—when he was managed by Kenneth—Leonard was able to have a pictorial with a veteran photographer (with his photos bearing the GMA logo), and was promised to be introduced on “Showbiz Central,” as well as on “Show Me Da Manny.”

“Nagpunta rin po kami sa OctoArts [Films] na sila nga daw po ‘yung tutulong sa’kin sa workshop,” the lad added.

However, he started to suspect when the con did not shell out a cent in their endeavors.

“Hanggang sa ginagamit ko ‘yung sasakyan ko, nagtataka ako ni isang kusing hindi man lang naglalabas ng pera. Lahat gastos ko. Eh sabi niya siya ang magma-manage sa’kin. Parang wala namang nagma-manage na ‘yung talent ang gumagastos,” Marvin lamented.

Kenneth allegedly went further and asked his parents money for his publicity.

“Nung time na nag-uusap-usap na kami about sa pera, humihingi na ngayon siya ng 7,000 [pesos] sa’min, para sa press. Sabi ko, bakit kami ang maglalabas ng pera eh kami ‘yung talent, ako ‘yung talent?” he related.

Witnesses during that meeting were entertainment writers Nap Alip and Erlinda Rapadas. The former—who hasn’t met the real Sweet in real life but knew his late father—was even asked by the poser to write a press release for his supposed talent.

“Medyo nagtaka na ko kasi na-feel namin ni Linda na namimilit na siya dun sa parents na magbigay ng pera. Kala namin ikaw ang may budget. Hindi siya kumikibo,” he recalled.

Kenneth was busted during the confrontation, and with the help of the Cruz’ family’s neighbors, he was taken to the Precinct 1 of the Antipolo Police Station.

Meanwhile, Kenneth repeatedly apologized to Marvin and his parents, to the press, and to John.

“Sa pamilya ni Marvin, pasensya, pasensya, pasensya po talaga. Hindi ko po intensyon na manghingi sa inyo ng pera. Hindi po talaga ako humingi ng pera na pansarili ko po. Para po sa media rin po. In-explain ko rin po sa kanila pero wala po akong intensyon na humingi ng 7,000 para sa’kin,” he said.

He admitted that he went with the flow when he was introduced to Robert, a singer who referred Marvin to him, as the comedian-TV host.

“Nung gabi na nagkita kami ni Robert, kasi sabi ni Tito Danny, ‘Si Sweet ito, nandito sa bahay ko.’ Eh ‘di siyempre parang sinakyan ko na dahil kinuha po nila ako para dun sa indie film ng ‘Binyag’ nga po,” Kenneth recounted.

The Cruz family did not file a case against the imposter.

Sweet, during a live interview, vented his disappointment over the unending sham, which only gets tolerated because of a lack of law on identity theft in the country.

“Matagal ko nang gusto [mag-demanda] kaya lang apparently walang identity theft law dito sa Pilipinas. May mga sinabi ‘yung mga lawyers ko na puwedeng isampa, kaso minimal lang na mga kaso.”

He added: “Eventually magso-sorry lang siya, ‘yung mga taong naargabyado, patatawarin. Hahayaan na lang siya. So hindi siya humihinto.”

“Slightly na-ooffend ako sa mga taong naloloko niya,” John said, and he apologized to everyone that Kenneth has victimized and encouraged them to “pursue [the case]. Kasuhan niyo po ‘yan nang bonggang-bongga para makulong na po ‘yan.”

According to Sweet, he has already met Kenneth before.

“Una ko ‘yang nakilala bagets pa siya noon. Nilalapitan niya ko, idol nga daw niya ko. Lahat ng mga sinusuot ko gusto rin niyang isuot,” said he.

He said that his fan first tricked Valerie Concepcion and her mother back when she is still starting a career in showbiz, asking money from them. The second was when he asked for discounts and ex-deals from a certain mall, introducing himself as Sweet.

The third time, he issued checks, which were not in his name to a certain starlet. And, just two years ago, he had a one-hour show in a bar at Parañaque in Sweet’s name!

In the end, John jokingly quipped, “Manood kayo ng mga shows ko para updated kayo sa mukha ko.”