“FAKE news.”
This was the clarification made by Colonel Leo Pamittan, acting director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noccpo), regarding the alleged kidnapping of three teenage girls at La Carlota City.
A message circulating on social media alleged that green and white vans used by the suspects as service vehicles were sighted somewhere in La Castellana town.
The message, purportedly from Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), added that one of the suspects' companions was reportedly arrested by the police.
But Pamittan said that none of these incidents happened, adding that he doubts that the message was indeed from the police.
He admitted that it is difficult to trace the original source of the message being sent via Facebook Messenger.
The province’s top cop reiterated that the public should refrain from passing the message as it is not true.