No missing child in NCR amid kidnap attempts — Eleazar

Director Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO chief. JAM STA ROSA / INQUIRER FILE

MANILA, Philippines — Amid recent reported attempts to abduct children, no child has been kidnapped in Metro Manila in the previous week, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar said Tuesday.

“Sa ngayon, wala kaming impormasyon o report na nagsasabing may nawala. Gusto kong mailinaw iyon dahil ayokong mag-create ng panic and alarm, dahil may mga impormasyon nitong nakaraang linggo na meron daw nang-aagaw ng bata,” Eleazar told Radyo Inquirer.

(As of now, we do not have information or report that claim a child had not been found. I want to make that clear because I don’t want to create panic and alarm, because we received information last week that some tried to abduct children.)

On Friday, a woman was arrested in Sampaloc, Manila, for allegedly attempting to kidnap two boys. The victims, aged seven and eight, were able to escape and seek help from village watchmen.

A man was also arrested in Quezon City for allegedly trying to abduct a nine-year-old child, who was also able to escape from the kidnapper.

Although there were no reported successful kidnappings, Eleazar urged parents to take extra care of their children.

“Ayaw nating magkaroon ng agam-agam sa ating mga magulang, bagama’t talagang dapat mag-ingat,” he said.

(We don’t want parents to worry, although they should be really be careful.)

He called on parents to report to the police any abduction.

“Tayo ay nananawagan na ilapit sa atin iyon (kidnapping incidents). Ipagbigay alam para ating maimbestigahan,” Eleazar said.

(We are urging them to report kidnapping incidents. Inform us so we can investigate.) /cbb