In Cebu: No kidnapping cases

CEBU, Philippines —  While not taking things lightly, authorities have dispelled reports of alleged kidnapping in Cebu and said no official report or complaint has reached the police.

They advised the public not to share unverified information, especially on social media, where reports of alleged kidnapping circulated.

The anti-kidnapping group of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 also urged supposed survivors of botched kidnappings to come forward and file official reports with the police – not on social media.

“Atong awhagon ang mga nag-ingon nga nabiktima sila sa attempted kidnapping to come out in the open and report to authorities,” said its chief, said Lt. Zosimo Ravanes over MyTV Cebu.

Cebu City Councilor Philip Zafra, chairman of the City Council committee on peace and order, said that even with the report turning out negative, the city will be proactive and intensify police visibility in crowded places, including schools, especially with the return of face-to-face classes.

“Nevertheless, atong gipa-intensify ang atong police visibility, to include auxiliary forces, kaning atong mga barangay tanod ug Task Force Kasaligan in crowded areas, especially in schools as one way of deterrent ba,” he said.

He also urged the public to report any untoward incident straight to the police or the barangay instead of posting first on social media so that action will be taken immediately.

“Ipahibaw lang gyud namo sa publiko nga wala gyud, so far, but kung naa gyuy mga incidents, manawagan ta sa publiko nga mu-report gyud dayon sila sa barangay o sa kapulisan para ma-aksyonan dayon,” Zafra said.

“Dali lang kaayo ta maka-access sa social media karon… have a sense of responsibility… i-validate nato ang source kung how true… Be responsible in posting,” he added.

Based on the city’s data, 90 percent of the crimes reported directly to authorities have been attend to and solved by the city police.

The police chief of neighboring Cordova also denied receiving official reports of kidnapping.

Reports of alleged abduction in the town also circulated on social media.

“Wala tay nadawat nga mga reports, official reports, nga nianhi diri sa station para magpa-blotter or mu-report nga naay alleged nga kidnapping incident… so, para sa ako, dili lang siguro ta mutuo dayon, no, ug dili lang pud nato i-spread or ipakalat ang mga repors nga dili validated,” said Major Michael Gingoyon, chief of the Cordova Police.

He said the principal of the school where the students who spread the misinformation are enrolled has said the students also just shared what they found on social media.

Like Cebu City, Gingoyon said Cordova will be proactive and will strengthen police presence like at schools. He also urged the town’s residents to report untoward incidents straight to the police.

Anti-Kidnapping Group

Like the cops in Cebu City and Cordova, the anti-kidnapping group also deployed operatives and investigators, this time, to places where the alleged kidnappings happened, as reported on social media.

“Nagpadala kita og operatiba, mga imbestigador niining mga lugar nga gikataho nga dunay mga insidente sa sa pagpangidnap kunuhay unta nga wala nadayon...Cebu city, naay nabasa but officially none… and even in the other police stations walay natala,” Ravanes said.

 “So far, as of this time, ang anti-kidnapping group sa PNP kita diri sa PRO-7, wala pa kitay nadawat bisan usa ka kaso regarding sa atong nabasa sa social media,” he said.

Seasonal Issue?

Ravanes noted that the issue of kidnapping often crops up during opening classes with types of vehicles and plate numbers getting posted online.

“Every mag-opening og klases, mugawas gyud ni nga issue… mga sakyanan, same while numbers and van… same ra pud… no basis… Nag-create lang sila’g kaguliyang,” he said.

He reminded the public to be responsible with the information they post on social media because they can be held liable criminally for disinformation and causing public panic.

Aside from visibility, the PNP launched information campaign at schools to help students avoid being victims of kidnapping by taking basic steps like avoiding conversations with strangers.

Colorum Vehicles

In line with safety precautions, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 Director Eduardo Montealto, Jr. urged commuters not to take colorum vehicles.

“Kasagaran ana kay van nga namasahero… aron masiguro gyud , dapat mangutana gyud mo kun naa  ba sila'y franchise,” Montealto said during the OpenLine News Forum over  MyTV yesterday.

He said finding out if the vehicle has proper documents and franchise ensures that it is also covered by insurance – a safety net in the event of an accident.

He said LTFRB-7 continues to hunt down colorum vehicles and is open to working with the PNP in coming up with proactive measures against kidnapping.- Sanden J. Anadia and Decemay P. Padilla, JMO (FREEMAN)