Another kidnap claim: 2 men try to abduct 10-year-old girl

CEBU, Philippines - One more story of a kidnapping attempt was reported yesterday, adding to the 20 unconfirmed reports of abduction among students after the kidnap-slay of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique.

A 10-year-old girl reported that two men on board a van tried to force her to go with them at Barangay Capitol Site last Monday.

The girl escaped after a motorcycle-for-hire driver warned her against going with the men.

In a television report, the girl and her mother reported the matter to the barangay hall at noontime yesterday, about 24 hours after the incident.

She told Barangay Captain Manuel Guanzon and other barangay officials that she was walking alone on her way home from her school, the Cebu Christian Center Church Child Center, shortly before noon when the attempted abduction took place.

She claimed that a white van stopped beside her and a man sitting on the front seat opened the door. The man then told her to get on the van because her mother was waiting for her at home.

Shocked and speechless, the Grade 5 pupil just looked at the man, while the one driving the van sat still.

A driver of a motorcycle-for-hire saw the man holding the girl’s arm, which prompted him to shout at the man and told the girl not to go with the two men.

The two then sped off.

The police are still looking for the motorcycle-for-hire driver who allegedly rescued the girl.

The mother said she reported the matter to the barangay officials so that parents will be aware and will secure their kids, as well as for barangay officials to take pre-emptive measures.

Guanzon said they will be deploying barangay tanods at the vicinity of the school before the start of the day’s classes and during the releasing time for students.

He will also call for a meeting with the Parents and Teachers Association to inform the parents.

Rodora Mendoza, principal of the school, said they are tightening their school’s security and at the same time urge parents to accompany their children to and from the school.

Mendoza said the kids are safe inside the school but as long as they are released from their classes, it is now the responsibility of the parents to secure them.

The school also welcomes the efforts of the barangay to deploy tanods at the school’s vicinity.

Earlier, the police expressed that they are starting to be wary of the rising number of claims of kidnapping, as these may just be used by students as excuse from being absent from their classes.

Police call on the parents to talk to their children to see if they have any problems, even if investigators check the veracity of the stories. – (FREEMAN)