Police: Kidnap-try in Alegria a hoax (Sabong News)

CEBU, Philippines — Authorities have denied a reported kidnapping attempt of a 13-year-old girl in Alegria town that went viral on social. Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director Col. Engelbert Soriano said the incident was just a miscommunication between the minor and the driver of a van-for-hire. Soriano said there was no kidnapping attempt as claimed on the social media post. The provincial police director said he immediately ordered an investigation into the report and found out that the girl, a student from Sitio Sangi, Barangay Madridejos in Alegria town, was waiting for a public transport along the highway on her way to school at around 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 2. The van driver passed by and asked the girl if she was to take a ride. The girl mistook the driver for a kidnapper and ran away. "Ang result ng initial investigation namin and interview with the driver, walang ganong insidente ng kidnapping," said Soriano. Soriano added that the girl and her sibling also had a history of a motorcycle rider allegedly trying to kidnap them in the past, which might have triggered the incident. "Everyday she goes to school jeep ang sinasakyan niya and suddenly may nag-stop na van and hindi naman siya sumasakay sa van. Bata pa yung babae, ang pumasok sa isip nung tinatanong sya kung sasakay siya, eh iba yung pumasok sa isip nya. Instead na sumagot na hindi, tumakbo so natakot siya," Soriano said. Soriano said he already instructed the chief of police of Alegria to designate a waiting area, especially for the minors who will wait for transportation on their way to school and home. This is also to establish that legitimate drivers have specific waiting and parking areas to pick up students and minors. Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is calling on Congress to pass a legislation regulating the use of social media. “We call on Congress to follow the lead of other countries and pass legislation to regulate social media,” said DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya. This came after a delayed response from Facebook in taking down illegal e-sabong pages and accounts. Malaya said, Facebook must be held liable for any illegal content on their sites. “They must be made to account for how it protect its user’s privacy and how it handles and safeguards user’s data. Facebook must have the duty to take care of their users, including protecting them from illegal and harmful content.” The Philippines is currently considered the social media capital of the world by amount of use accordingly. Eighty (80) million people use social media on average about four (4) hours a day. “Our country is one of Facebook’s biggest markets, accounting for 93% of the country’s social media market share. Since it dominates the PH market, it generates considerable profits, especially in the last national and local elections.” With this, Facebook and other technology companies have to be made responsible and accountable for stopping illegal activities – like e-sabong and child abuse – especially on live streaming and video call platforms said Malaya. “Up to now, online predators increasingly use live-stream because most tech companies have not done enough to detect or stop this type of abuse. As a business entity operating in the Philippines, Facebook should never allow itself to be a venue or a tool for illegal activity. Despite being banned, it inexplicably allowed e-sabong in its platform”. The country is expected to be vigilant in enforcing our laws without fear or favor even if it involves a social media giant. “We must build a safe and healthy online environment removing content that is illegal and harmful to the general public,” Malaya said. —