Suspect in Quezon City toddler’s kidnap caught

MANILA, Philippines - The man accused of snatching one-year-old Lovelio “Buboy” Mendoza Jr. was arrested Saturday afternoon after he ran amuck in Barangay Masambong, Quezon City, officials said yesterday.

Anthony Urbano Dimalanta, 29, admitted kidnapping Mendoza, said Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano. Dimalanta was earlier charged with human trafficking for kidnapping and trying to sell the toddler.

Albano said Dimalanta is facing additional complaints for violation of the Omnibus Election Code and assault upon an agent of a person in authority.

Dimalanta was drunk when he ran amuck, brandishing a knife as he ran through the neighborhood, a few blocks away from QCPD Station 2, which launched a manhunt for him after he was identified as the same man who snatched Mendoza on April 2, said station commander Superintendent Pedro Sanchez.

Sanchez said their manhunt led them to the suspect’s hometown in Tayug, Pangasinan, where they found out Dimalanta had been accused of robbery and bike theft.

On a whim

Albano said Dimalanta, a scavenger, admitted he was high on drugs at the time of the abduction.

“He claimed he just took the boy on whim,” Albano said.

Interviewed by reporters, Dimalanta claimed he did not attempt to sell the child. He claimed he brought the child to Baclaran after panic set in when he realized he had just abducted a child.

Dimalanta also claimed he did not ask for money.

Based on surveillance footage, the child followed a man carrying a basin that had empty plastic bottles on the morning of April 2.

The toddler then walked several blocks from the store where his mother was buying cellular phone credits. Later on, the suspect and the child boarded a tricycle.

Dimalanta said he brought the boy to Baclaran, Parañaque the same day and asked if anyone would be willing to adopt the child. When there were no takers, he asked a couple if he could entrust the boy to them.

Dimalanta said he asked P1,200 from the couple supposedly for his trip to his hometown in Pangasinan. He even left behind his photo and gave the name Dennis Nabua.

Two days later, the couple contacted Mendoza’s parents after hearing news of a missing child in Quezon City.

Witnesses then told police the man in the photo and the man in the surveillance footage were the same, leading to the filing of criminal complaints against him last week.