Senior Superintendent Ismael Rafanan, provincial police director, said one Noemi Ancheta, 32, initially reported that three women whom she identified as Rachelle Laos Ayala of Corinthian Gardens in Quezon City, supposed recruitment firm owner Rose Ramirez and one Myrna Galang of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, were abducted on their way to see her at Nepo Mart here.
"We kept Ancheta under our protective custody for two days (because) she claimed that the kidnappers had been calling her on her cell phone for arrangements on the ransom money," Rafanan said.
She also claimed that one of the "victims" had been calling her to confirm their abduction, and that the three women were being held captive somewhere in Arayat town.
She added that Ayala’s husband, whom she identified as James Ayala, arrived from Australia on the day Ayala was snatched.
But subsequent checks showed Ancheta’s tale to be a hoax: No Rachelle Laos Ayala resided in Corinthian Gardens, no James Ayala arrived last Friday and that the Myrna Galang who lives in Cabiao is blind, has never left her home and denied knowing Ancheta.