Overseas call sends cops searching for 'kidnapped' teen

MANILA, Philippines – A distress call from New Zealand sent policemen on a wild-goose chase around Manila last night for a man who was reportedly holding a teenager for a ransom of P1.5 million.

New Zealand national Japhet Vailoces called up the Philippine National Police hotline through the Internet, claiming his Filipino friend, Concordio Sajorda Jr., 18, had been kidnapped.

His call was relayed to the Sta. Cruz, Manila police station, which has jurisdiction over the area where Sajorda was reportedly kidnapped.

Coordinating with Vailoces, station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut scoured the area until they came across two men at the corner of Rizal Avenue and Carriedo street. One of the men turned out to be Sajorda.

The other man, identified as Ronald Moreno, 29, denied abducting Sajorda but said he was demanding P1,500 from the teenager as payment for his sexual services.

He said Sajorda had no money at that time and started calling someone from his cell phone.

Sajorda said Moreno threatened to get his cell phone if he could not pay the P1,500, so he asked help from Vailoces.

Yabut said there seemed to be a miscommunication between Sajorda and Vailoces, who made the distress call.

Police filed robbery charges against Moreno. – Nestor Etolle