Kidnapping rap filed vs. 79-year-old farmer

CEBU, Philippines - Little did the 79-year-old farmer know that his supposed act of kindness for an 11-year-old girl would lead to his long-time imprisonment in jail.

Yesterday, police pursued the filing of abduction in relation to Republic Act 7610 or Anti-Child Abuse case against Cesar Mahinay, who allegedly abducted Rachel (not her real name) in Barangay Baliwagan, Balamban town last Sunday.

PO2 Godofredo Dumdum of Balamban Police Station said PO1 Alfredo De Gracia escorted the septuagenarian at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Cebu City for the filing of the said charge.

Dumdum said the one who stood as the complainant was the girl’s parents, who initially decided not to file charges against the elder because they pity him.

However, the Department of Social Welfare and Development 7, Dumdum said, convinced the parents to pursue the charges as Mahinay’s actuations were tantamount to kidnapping.

“Naalarma man gud siya kasoha ma’am. Ma-hog g’yud na kidnapping kay wa man sad siya mananghid sa ginikanan gud,” Dumdum said. (He did not ask permission from the parents and the police was notified so it was really kidnapping.)

Rachel and her younger  brother, who is eight years old, were caroling at Barangay Baliwagan last Sunday afternoon when Mahinay approached and convinced them to go with him to Toledo where they can earn more money from caroling.

When they arrived in Barangay Buanoy, Balamban, Mahinay took Rachel with him while he gave the brother P20 and told him to go home first.

The septuagenarian said he only wanted to feed the girl and eventually adopt her as he took pity on her and her brother. Rachel, whose mother is jobless and father works as laborer, is third of 10 siblings. — (FREEMAN)