‘Kidnap try’ just a snatching

CEBU, Philippines — After reports of another alleged abduction, this time in Barangay Pardo, Cebu City, circulated in social media last Wednesday, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) clarified it was just a snatching incident.

This after a 21-year-old college student claimed that men in a white van tried to abduct him in Danao City. He is now facing charges for making the false claim and raising alarm.

Police Major John Kareen Escober, chief of the Pardo Police Station, told reporters that the said incident in Pardo was not an abduction attempt but rather a snatching incident.

At around 8 p.m. last Wednesday night, a 16-year-old female was walking along the said barangay when a green multicab stopped nearby. A man wearing a surgical mask disembarked from the multicab and attempted to snatch her cellphone from her.

“Ang nahitabo ra didto, naglakaw ra ang bata paingon uli, murag ang interest sa tawo iyang cellphone, kay sige man gud ni siya’g atubang sa cellphone samtang naglakaw pauli,” Escober said.

“Unya naay nihunong nga, dili gani van, multicab nga kagang-kagang pa g’yud, unya ninaog ‘tung tawo ni-action ug gunit niya, iyang gisipa, mao na dayon tuy giistorya nga naa kunoy mo-abduct niya which is dili man g’yud ing-ato ang istorya,” he added.

Since the victim is a member of the karatedo varsity of her school, she was able to defend herself by kicking the unknown suspect.

A friend of the victim, who was able to record what had happened, posted the footage in social media, calling it an abduction attempt, and causing alarm in social media.

“Unya wala ra ba gyu’y na-abduct na tawo, wala pu’y reported na, wala pu’y ginikanan or igsuon na naa sila igsuon na gi-abduct,” Escober emphasized.

Right after the incident circulated in social media, Pardo Police Station personnel immediately tried to retrieve footage from some CCTV cameras in the area but failed to do so since none of the cameras in the area were functioning.

Escober said he already instructed the victim to avoid posting misleading information in social media since it can raise panic and alarm among the public.

The police are now trying to determine the identity of the masked man who tried to snatch her cellphone.   BRP (FREEMAN)