Biliran cops file raps vs woman over fake kidnapping

TACLOBAN CITY — A 19-year-old woman in Biliran province is facing criminal complaints for saying she was kidnapped by a group of men on board a white van on August 20, a claim which turned out to be false.

Jeane Gayrama, a resident of Cabucgayan town in Biliran, had issued a public apology but it did not stop police investigators from filing on Sept. 13 cases against her at the Biliran Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

She was charged with violating the Revised Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

If found guilty, Gayrama will be imprisoned for one to six months and ordered to pay a fine of up to P200,000.

The complaints filed against her stemmed from claims that armed men on August 20 forcibly took her in Barangay Santissimo Rosario in Naval, the provincial capital.

Three days later, Gayrama recanted her statements, saying she only made up stories of her alleged kidnapping.

“I am sorry. There was no white van. There was no kidnapping. I apologize to the (Naval) police, to the mothers and parents who were worried because of what I have done,” she said.

At that time, she said she was having a “personal problem” and was hoping that by concocting a kidnapping scenario, the person who she had a disagreement with would rescue and come back to her.

The local police had conducted an extensive operation to find out the veracity of Gayrama’s claims.

With the help of witnesses and footage of closed-circuit television in the area, investigators found out that Gayrama was not kidnapped.

They also found inconsistencies in her statements.

Colonel Dionisio Apas Jr., the provincial police director, said the filing of the charges against Gayrama should serve as a warning against those who spread fake news and cause fear among the public.

“Please avoid spreading news or information that is unverified and will mislead the public,” he said in a statement.

“Be more cautious when posting and sharing in social media, and always fact-check the authenticity of reports so as not to fall victim to misinformation and disinformation. Violators will face the full force of the law,” he added.

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