Police in Bohol fight spread of rumors about kids’ abductions as just saying they’re false turns out inadequate

TAGBILARAN CITY—Police in Bohol province sought to ease fears about supposedly a spate of abductions of children for their internal organs that has fuelled paranoia among parents and which started in Metro Manila.

Col. Jonathan Cabal, Bohol police chief, said there is no cause for alarm over reports of children disappearing and believed abducted as there have been no such case in the province.

“So far, Bohol is safe from kidnappings,” said the police chief.

The paranoia spread after TV networks, fighting for ratings, aired footage from security cameras purportedly showing a child being abducted by suspects on board a white van somewhere in southern Metro Manila. The panic-feeding frenzy was further set ablaze on social media.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) had already found and announced that it was a hoax but the paranoia flew swifter, gripping many parents in Bohol in fear.

One such parent is Elizabeth Raotraot, mother of two children aged 10 and 8.

“I am really scared whenever I see a white van,” she said. She added that she makes it a point to escort her children to school as a precautionary measure which was actually a normal thing for parents to do.

But Cabal said the real culprits are people who spread false stories that just tend to sow baseless fears. Leo Udtohan

Edited by TSB