Raps ready versus kidnap try suspects

CEBU, Philippines - At least six were arrested by the Minglanilla police for allegedly attempting to kidnap students of the Minglanilla Central School midday last Thursday.

The six are educational consultants of a company that sells interactive materials for pupils.

They were identified as James Paradela, Reymart Abobo, Frederico Dela Cruz, Estella Montes, Marian Sereño, and Rhea Mae Sagmon.

They were arrested Thursday night after the van to which the children were allegedly lured was traced in the neighboring Naga City.

Since the supposed kidnapping did not materialize, the police said the six are facing charges for alleged violation of the anti-child abuse law for causing trauma to the children.

"Dili siya kidnapping.. mahug ni siya nga child abuse kay naka-cause og trauma sa bata tungud sa kahadlok," said Superintendent Dexter Calacar, the chief the Minglanilla Police Station.

A formal complaint against the six was supposed to be filed yesterday but authorities did not meet the cut-off time.

Incident

The children, aged nine to 11, were on a lunch break outside the campus when Paradela allegedly approached them and asked that he be accompanied to the owner of a guava tree nearby because he wanted to buy some of the fruit.

"Kuyogi ko kay atong pangitaon ang tag-iya sa bayabas kay mopalit ko," Paradela allegedly told the children.

When the children pointed out that the guava fruits were not yet ripe and asked if Paradela was serious, Paradela allegedly grabbed one of the four and urged her to enter the white L300 van with plate number XDE659 parked near the school.

Shocked of the turn of events, the children ran back into the school and reported the incident immediately to their teacher.

"Among gipangutana, nganong mupalit man ka nga hilaw man na unya iya nang gigunitan ug gipasulod unta sa van mao nang naglumbaanay mi'g dagan," one of the children said.

Hours after the incident, following surveillance, authorities spotted the van in Sitio Tabtoy, Barangay Tuyan, Naga City and invited the passengers, the six now facing charges, for questioning. Yesterday morning, police recovered the van.

Defense

The manager of the six, Jennelyn Demo, defended her employees.

“Hindi sila masasamang mga tao… nagtatrabaho lang sila ng maayos. Nagkataon lang na napagkamalan. Yung kwento, may dagdag na. Ako ang makapagpatunay na connected sila sa Grolier kasi may mga na-deliver na items,” she said.

She is referring to Grolier Philippines, which is engaged in the business of selling and delivering books in Cebu, including Moalboal, Balamban, Toledo City, Naga City, and San Fernando.

Abobo echoed his boss’ statement.

“Ang hinahanap namin ay parents na may mga bata na maliliit. Ang intensyion makatulong sa mga parents na i-nurture ng tama ang brain ng bata during formative years about sa child development program tapos kami pa ang masisira ng ganito. Ang laking mali na nito,” he said.

Paradela, himself, denied the allegations.

“Dili gyud to (kidnapping). Sa kagutom ra gyud to nako. Hangol man gyud ko'g bayabas sa tinuod lang. I'm an educated person. Joke ra man to ako. Mura ra na og bomb joke kay dili na tinuod," he told reporters.

He confirmed, nevertheless, that their van was parked nearby.

Paradela’s parents, as well as a barangay councilman in the barangay where the Paradelas live, also attested to his innocence.

Investigation

Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Noli Taliño said he has directed Calacar to investigate the incident further.

“Masasabi natin na isolated, ngayon lang nangyayari ito,” Taliño said.

“Siguro, kasama sa modus nila as surveillance, sino ang bibiktimahin nila, mabuti nalang na-arrested na,” he said.

 “Initial information natin not from Region 7 yung mga suspects, may Tagalog, halo-halo sila,” he said.

 He advised the parents to monitor their children regularly and train them not to talk to strangers. (FREEMAN)