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Sunday, March 09, 2008
Kidnap try on 3 pupils alarms parents, teachers
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Parents and teachers of a public school here have expressed fear after unidentified men attempted to kidnap three schoolchildren two days ago.
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Catalino Saniel, principal of the Marciano Mancera Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Balindog, Kidapawan City, said masked men onboard a white van attempted to kidnap three of their pupils while on their way home on Thursday noon.
Accordingly, the unidentified suspects told the pupils they would receive P100 each if they board the vehicle.
But when one of the men opened the van, the pupils saw a gagged child inside.
They ran fast as they could, leaving behind their slippers and some of their school belongings.
One of the suspects was able to get hold one of the schoolchildren who later managed to escape.
"This has alarmed us. If this happens to our pupils here, it might happen to other pupils in other places. We were just lucky because our kids were able to escape," said Saniel.
On Saturday, Saniel called for an emergency meeting with officers and members of the Parents Teachers Community Association (PTCA) of the school.
During the said meeting, they passed a resolution urging local police and other law enforcement agencies to secure not only their school but also other schools in the city.
Last week, text messages had circulated in Kidapawan City that three vehicles plying the Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat route are looking for children as possible victims.
Local cops, however, dismissed such reports as "baseless" and could be part of a "practical joke."
"Instead of forwarding those text messages to other mobile phones, you better tell other people to be extra careful. I don't believe those messages are true," City Police Director Chief Inspector Leo Ajero said earlier.
Ajero changed his statement when told about Thursday's incident. "I already ordered a thorough probe on the case. Pending investigation, I already deployed men in areas vulnerable to kidnapping," he said. (Malu Cadelina Manar/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (March 9, 2008 issue)
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