Girl, 4, rescued from ‘mother’

MANILA, Philippines - A four-year-old girl was rescued last Saturday from a woman who snatched her from her house in Tondo, Manila and claimed to be her mother.

The girl was playing outside her house when Purificacion Gozon, 54, suddenly grabbed her. Gozon was about to leave the area with the girl when she was caught by barangay watchmen on patrol.

Gozon was brought to the Manila Police District Station 7. She denied kidnapping the girl, saying she was her daughter who had been missing for days.

The child’s real mother went to the police station and belied Gozon’s claim.

Police officers said they will file kidnapping charges against Gozon. They reminded parents to watch over their children, especially after a spate of kidnappings in the metropolis and nearby provinces involving children below seven years old.