2 nabbed for child kidnap tries

MANILA, Philippines — Two persons were arrested in separate child kidnapping attempts in Manila and Pasig since Tuesday.

Romualdo Abalajon Jr., 49, was arrested for allegedly trying to snatch a five-year-old girl in Pasig on Thursday.

Abalajon was also reportedly carrying a sachet of shabu at the time of his arrest, said Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Biay, Eastern Police District (EPD) director.

Biay ordered a deeper investigation of Abalajon after witnesses identified him as among the occupants of a green van (XMM-507) the Binangonan, Rizal police said are reportedly behind the child kidnappings in the town.

He said Abalajon could be linked to child kidnappings in eastern Metro Manila and nearby areas.

Police said the girl’s mother was attending to her elder daughter in school and left the girl unattended along Villa Tupaz street in Barangay San Joaquin at around 9 a.m. Thursday.

Witness Rose Marie Vecino, 29, said she was standing outside her house when she noticed Abalajon roaming aimlessly in their neighborhood. 

Vecino said the girl was rushing out of their house when Abalajon took hold of her hands and guided her to the street.

At this juncture, Vecino grabbed the girl from Abalajon and reported the incident to police officers patrolling the area.

Abalajon, holding back tears, denied the allegations against him. He told Senior Superintendent Orlando Yebra Jr., Pasig police chief, that he loved children and could not kidnap them.

Yebra sent a flash alarm to the EPD and other police districts in Metro Manila to intercept the vehicle.

He ordered the filing of attempted abduction and illegal possession of shabu against Abalajon before the city prosecutor’s office.

Running away

Mary Jane Marquez, 30, was arrested when she tried to run away with four-year-old Kenri Jael Codilla on Tuesday, Manila Police District Station 1 commander Superintendent Jay Dimaandal said yesterday.

Marquez was caught at the corner of Road 10 and Morning Star street in Barangay 107 at around 11 p.m. 

Abigael, the girl’s mother, earlier reported that her child was missing.

As Marquez was being interrogated, she reportedly started mumbling and acting strangely, Dimaandal said, but police still filed charges of attempted kidnapping against her before the city prosecutor’s office.

Dimaandal said they are trying to determine if the suspect acted alone.

In Valenzuela on Feb. 29, a nine-year-old boy was walking home from school when a man grabbed him and told the boy to come with him.

Closed-circuit television footage from the barangay showed the boy running away from the man, who also fled when a police patrol car passed by.

The boy’s family went to the Valenzuela police yesterday to follow up on the case.

Valenzuela police chief Senior Superintendent Rolando Men doza said they are trying to identify the man and are coordinating with other police units to determine if there were similar incidents.