Man nabbed for ‘abducting’ 16-year-old ‘live-in partner’

CEBU, Philippines – A 28-year-old man was arrested by the police for allegedly abducting a 16-year-old girl who he forced into living with him, Friday in Bantayan town.

Dante Desabelle, a resident of Barangay Doong, Doong Island in Bantayan, was caught by the police inside a shanty in Barangay Mojon where he brought the girl.

Police Officer 2 Joseph Dela Cerna of Bantayan Police Station said the parents of the girl went to their station and asked for assistance regarding their “abducted” daughter.

The parents, Dela Cerna said, alleged that their 16-year-old daughter was forcibly taken by the suspect from their house in Barangay Luyong Baybay, Doong Island and brought her to Mojon.

“Gikan sila sa islet sa Bantayan, iyaha nga gipugos nga gi-live-in. Dili man sila uyab,” Dela Cerna said.

After hearing the complaint, Senior Inspector Jaime Santillan, the station chief, together with the Women and Children’s Protection Desk personnel, proceeded to Mojon, which was some five kilometers away from the town proper.

The suspect was found by the police inside a shanty with the girl.

WCPD personnel rescued the girl while the rest of the police arrested the suspect.

The police frisked the suspect and reportedly recovered two small packs of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia from his possession.

The girl was taken into the custody of WCPD.

Dela Cerna said the suspect, who they believed to be using illegal drugs, kept mum when interrogated.

The WCPD is contemplating on filing charges for forcible abduction against the suspect.— /NSA (FREEMAN)