Cop kidnaps girl over lost firearm

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – A member of this city police office was accused of kidnapping a 16-year-old girl for allegedly stealing his firearm in Molo district here last Sunday.

The complainant, whose name was withheld, said Police Officer 3 Alexis Jutis reportedly barged into their house in Barangay Boulevard at around 1:30 a.m. and snatched her.

Jutis was reportedly assigned with the city police’s anti-illegal drugs special operations task group.

The girl said Jutis reportedly dragged her into a pickup truck and drove away with her. She said her father followed on a motorcycle driven by another police officer.

The complainant said Jutis stopped upon reaching a bridge and threatened to throw her into the river while forcing her to admit that she stole his firearm. She was later released when her father arrived.

“He wanted me to admit that I took his firearm, that I sold it,” the girl said.

Reports said Jutis lost his firearm last Oct. 15 while at a beach resort in Arevalo district.

At that time, the girl and her three friends were also at the resort. Closed-circuit television camera footage showed them leaving the resort.

“I had my hands inside my shirt because I felt cold. They might have thought that I was hiding the gun,” the girl said.