2 deny student’s kidnap claim

MANILA, Philippines - Two students, accused by a classmate of kidnapping her in Cavite last Thursday, denied yesterday their involvement in her reported abduction.

Joveth Viron, 20, and Mary Joy de Luna belied the claim of Krizell Joy Consolacion, who said three men dragged her into an L-300 van and drugged her. She said she woke up in a dimly lit room and saw the two of them among 10 persons who guarded her.

Consolacion said she recognized the Manila Cathedral when she escaped from the room and went to the Intramuros police precinct Friday to report that she had been kidnapped.

Viron and De Luna told police they did not know what happened to Consolacion, and there were people who could testify to their whereabouts at the time their classmate claimed she was kidnapped. All three are students of the Asian Institute of Computer Studies.

De Luna, 26, said she stopped going to school in October due to a heart ailment and had not seen Consolacion for some time. She and Viron said they do not have the resources to stage a kidnapping.

Viron and De Luna said Consolacion had been reportedly acting strangely and was allegedly “possessed” while in class last year.