Cops rescue Caloocan girl from desperate aunt

An eight-year-old girl, kidnapped in Caloocan City by an aunt in dire need of money, was rescued unharmed two days later by police operatives in San Jose del Monte City (Bulacan), authorities said in a report yesterday.

Superintendent Napoleon Cuaton, Station Investigation and Detection Management Bureau (SIDMB) chief, said suspect Rosalie Taule, 31, a native of Samar and residing at Quarry Site, Minuyan, Norzagaray, Bulacan was collared in an entrapment operation last Sunday inside a popular burger chain outlet along the Quirino Highway.

In his report to Cuaton, SPO3 Raymundo Listangco, investigation chief of the North Extension Office (NEO) said Ana Tolentino of Waray Hills, Pangarap Village, Barangay 182, Caloocan City, mother of the victim, earlier filed charges against Taule, her half-sister, for spiriting away her daughter, a Grade 2 pupil, at around 5:30 p.m. last Friday as she came out of the Pangarap Elementary School.

The Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) advised Tolentino to gather information from relatives as to where her daughter was taken by Taule so a rescue operation may be launched.

At around 7:30 p.m. last Sunday, Tolentino told police Taule could be found in a nipa hut in a remote place in Bulacan.

Tolentino also presented a letter from Taule demanding P5,000 in cash in exchange for the release of her daughter.

A team of seven men led by SPO3 Bernard Salvosa, on board two private cars, then sought to entrap the suspect who agreed to meet up with the suspect for the payoff in Tungko, San Jose del Monte City.

At around 3 p.m., the suspect arrived and was arrested. Taule’s companion identified only as "Joel" eluded arrest.

The team was led by Taule to her house and rescued the victim.

In a confrontation at the police station, Tolentino and Taule, paternal sisters, agreed to an amicable settlement.

Tolentino withdrew the charges for humanitarian reasons even as Taule sought forgiveness saying she was financially hard up and only needed money.