A 30-year-old man was held by police for questioning for the disappearance of a 5-year-old boy from barangay Lorega, Cebu City.
Ricky Espinosa was brought to the police station by the boy’s mother, Jennifer Andrino, who made a citizen’s arrest.
Roldan Limutan Jr., her son from a previous relationship, has been missing since Holy Thursday.
The mother said she and her live-in partner went to Bantayan Island last Tuesday and left her son with Carmela Alipar, a 25-year-old friend in barangay Lorega.
While in Bantayan, the mother was called by Alipar who told her the boy was missing.
She rushed home Friday and reported her son’s disappearance to the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City police.
Alipar’s neighbors said the boy was seen with two carolers before he went missing.
The mother received information that the two men were seen at the St. Joseph Parish Church in Talisay City yesterday.
Andrino went to the church and saw Espinosa outside the church.
A candle vendor outside the church was shown the boy’s photo and told her she saw Espinosa and two other male companions give bread to the child in the morning.
With that Andrino brought Espinosa with her to the police despite his initial refusal.
Police said they were also checking reports that two men were seen bathing Roldan in an artesian well in barangay Ramos.
Espinosa denied involvement in Roldan’s disappearance. He said he knew the two other men referred to but didn’t give their names and addresses.
The case is still under investigation./CORRESPONDENT RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL