Lapu-Lapu dad proposes inclusion of abduction prevention in curriculum

CEBU, Philippines - A Lapu-Lapu City councilor wants the Department of Education and the city government to coordinate in educating elementary and high school students against criminals.

Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Harry Don Radaza filed a proposed resolution seeking training of students on how to help prevent abductions.

Radaza said there is a need now to integrate abduction prevention in the school curriculum to protect students.

Radaza said teaching about child abduction for sexual harassment, child trafficking, and other unknown reasons is not presently integrated in the school curriculum.

The city councilor said abduction prevention could have significantly complemented the present security measures imposed in schools, taking into consideration the recent abduction and murder of a six-year-old girl in Minglanilla town, whose body was dumped in a remote grassland in Barili town.

"Abduction and attempts of this sort have been also reported in other parts of the Visayas, involving elementary and high school students," said Councilor Radaza.

The Radaza measure emphasizes that education about abduction prevention shall equip the students with important information on how to recognize signs of abduction, common lures kidnappers or abductors use to take children away.

The proposed measure also states that there is also a need to teach the students how to avoid threatening situations and to use simple self defense tactics to prevent abduction and or possible attacks.

Radaza suggested that a one-hour Abduction Prevention seminar be implemented, with elementary and high school students, together with their parents, in attendance. (FREEMAN)