Boy, 5, rescued in anti-kidnap operation

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested a man accused of kidnapping and rescued the missing five-year-old child Tuesday evening in downtown area, Cebu City.

Allan Quilbio, 58, a native of Tarlac, was apprehended in a joint operation of the Anti-Kidnapping Task Force of Regions 6 and 7 in his rented apartment on Pelaez Street, Barangay San Antonio.

One of the task force operatives, who requested anonymity, said Quilbio brought the child to Cebu City on January 5, tagging along with him the child's personal belongings.

Police said Quilbio used to be the friend of the child's mother who works as a call center agent in Bacolod City.

Few days had passed when Quilbio demanded P16,000 from the child's mother who immediately reported the incident to Bacolod police.

Last Tuesday, Quilbio reportedly asked for another P20,000 from the mother of the victim to defray his expenses.

The mother did not heed Quilbio's demands and instead coordinated with the police.

Authorities in Bacolod then corresponded with Police Regional Office-7 which eventually located the whereabouts of the suspect and arrested him.

Quilbio admitted he was only forced to take the child to Cebu as a form of revenge against the child's mother after "she destroyed my image and reputation in our religious organization."

He clarified that the amount he demanded from the child's mother was not ransom money but payment for the expenses he spent for the child while the latter was staying in Cebu.

The P20,000 he asked from the mother, he explained, was actually intended to pay for the fare of the child back to Bacolod City.

Quilbio also said he did not sexually abuse the child, adding that the kid has been close to him and his family.

Quilbio claimed he has been doing tutorials for the child for almost a year after he was hired as a tutor by the mother.

The police are still waiting for the mother to formally press charges against Quilbio. — (FREEMAN)