CEBU, Philippines — A 21-year-old female student was believed to have been kidnapped while on her way to school in Cebu City early yesterday morning but was found at an abandoned house in Liloan town last night.
Her family sought the help of the police after receiving messages from her that she was taken by five men on board a van with plate number PMQ-128.
Carbon Police chief Jacinto Mandal, Jr. said it was around 8 a.m. when the student’s brother reported the incident.
The student’s elder sister said the victim still managed to ask for help through text messages.
The first text message sent at 5:55 a.m. read: “PMQ-128 black van.”
Another message followed: "Ate tabang naa ko sa lugar nga wa ko kabalo 2 ka negro 1 ka foreigner duha ka pinoy mga dagko tawo…Ate wa ko kahibaw asa ni tabangi ko."
Later, at 8:17 a.m., she received another message via Facebook Messenger, which said: "Ate malooy mo, luya na kaayo ko sa kahadlok."
The messages stopped arriving but the elder sister decided to send a message to ask where the alleged kidnappers picked her sister up to which the latter replied, "Adto didto dapit sa may CEC paliko."
An exchange of messages reportedly followed until 9 a.m. during which the younger victim said she was already hungry, her feet were tied, and she allegedly received punches in the abdomen several times.
At 9:11 a.m., a message arrived through the girl’s account on Facebook Messenger, which said:
"STOP FINDING HER! SHE'S MINE. I DON'T CARE, I WANT HER. YOU CANT SEE HER ANYMORE."
Believing that the sender was already one of the suspects, the elder sister pleaded that her sister be freed because they are poor and her sister is a lead singer at their church.
She received another reply in all capital letters: "I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE POOR, I HAVE A LOT OF MONEY".
The victim’s boyfriend said he has no idea who could have taken the girl. He said they were supposed to celebrate their fifth monthsary yesterday.
"Ning-good morning pa to siya nako’g mga alas siyete unya taod-taod, ni-text dayon siya og plate number," he said.
He said they have not had any major argument and her girlfriend had not also talked to him about any foreign national friends.
Rescue
Last night, responding to the call for help, members of the Liloan Police and barangay tanods went around town and found the girl at an abandoned house in Barangay Jubay.
Chief Insp. Randy Korret said the student was still in uniform but reportedly refused to go with the police, prompting the authorities to call for a female cop. The girl eventually agreed and she was brought to the Liloan Police Station.
Korret said they did not find the black van at the abandoned house.
Investigation
Following the report yesterday morning, cops reached out to the High Patrol Group, Land Transportation Office, and anti-kidnapping group for help.
"We will go deeper sa atong investigation if this is an abduction or if it's purely a misunderstanding," Jacinto had said.
He pointed out, though, that one crucial element in kidnapping is missing in the case – a demand for ransom.
"Ato nang gitahasan ang mga detectives to verify and to gather more info about the incident," Jacinto said.
At the Cebu City Police Office, CCPO Director Joel Doria said would have tapped the help of the Anti-Cyber Crime Group after several Facebook posts’ coming from the personal account of the victim was posted by the alleged abductors.
“We have to check the Facebook posts. We have to thoroughly check it. We are taking it seriously and we will take action,” Doria said yesterday. — with Ermida Q. Moradas (FREEMAN)