Girl, 12, escapes from kidnapper

MANILA, Philippines - A 12-year-old girl escaped from a man who tried to kidnap her in Caloocan City at past midnight Friday, police said yesterday.

The kidnapper, pretending to be the girl’s father, sent her a text message instructing her to go out of their house in East Grace Park at around 1 a.m., Chief Inspector Crisencio Galvez said.

When she went out, a man grabbed her and used a motorcycle to transport her, Galvez said.

Minutes after the kidnapping, the man reportedly sent a message to the girl’ relatives, demanding a ransom of P.5 million. The girl, however, took the opportunity to escape from her kidnapper.

Investigators have yet to identify the kidnapper, who fled after the girl escaped.