CEBU police are verifying two cases involving minors who were reported missing and feared kidnapped in Danao City this week.
One case turned out to be a hoax.
Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu provincial police chief, said a 13-year-old girl, who claimed she was recruited by a mysterious woman and some foreigners, later admitted she made up the story because she was afraid her mother would scold her for staying out late with friends.
An 11-year-old girl was recovered by barangay tanods from a couple in Looc, Danao City.
They denied kidnapping the girl, who was last seen by her family on Monday.
The child told police later that a woman, later identifed as Maricel Sarsahi, saw her walking on the road and invited her to come home with her in barangay Tuburan.
The woman said she took pity on seeing the child in torn clothes and slippers and only wanted to give her some decent clothes.
She and her live-in partner were detained by Danao police for further investigation.
Comendador said the other 13-year-old girl arrived at the Danao police precinct in tears, after parents reported her missing a few days ago.
Comendador said the child first claimed that she and two of her friends were taken northward on board a van by four persons, including two foreigners bearing snake tattoos.
Police sent a team to barangays Cantumog in Carmen town and barangay Binungkal, Catmon town trying to look for a house with a “red gate” described by the girl, but couldn’t find any.
News teams sent repoters, including a helicopter to the site, on the chance this case was similar to the unsolved Feb. 8 kidnapping-murder of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique in Naga City, south Cebu.
Upon closer investigation, the teenager yesterday admitted that she was just in barangay Tuburan, Danao City, with friends at the time and not missing. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos