Pasay City Mayor Imelda Rubiano on Monday ordered City Police commander Col. Bernard Yang to look into reports about the series of abductions in the city.
Rubiano’s directive to law enforcers came following complaints and reports posted on social media about kidnappings involving teenage residents and Chinese nationals.
The city chief executive reminded citizens to first report these incidents to their nearest community police precinct before posting it on social media.
“I am ordering the police to investigate these alleged abductions. We want these resolved immediately to ease the anxiety and uncertainty of their relatives,” said Rubiano.
“Let’s be careful and avoid risks by going to the police. The Philippine National Police is on top of the situation, and I am confident that they have the resources and manpower to solve these crimes,” she added.
The city’s public information office also stated that social media, Facebook, in particular, has been abuzz with teenagers being abducted, particularly within the vicinity of Pasay EDSA-Rotonda.
Yang, for his part, immediately formed a special police team to look into these reports. He said he has already ordered his men to prioritize these abduction cases.
Last week, police arrested three Chinese for alleged kidnapping their countryman in Pasay.
The suspects “• Li Gen, He Xiang, and Wang Jun “• were apprehended at the Skyway Toll Plaza in Villamor Airbase.
Police initially spotted Wang, the driver of a Chevrolet car, for not wearing his seat belt.
Police flagged down the car and saw He and Li beating the victim, Zhou Zheng Qiang.
Zhou told the lawmen the suspects abducted him for not paying them P950,000, which he had used for illegal gambling.
A social media post narrated an incident at the corner of Don Hernandez and F. B. Harrison Streets near San Juan de Dios Hospital, where a Chinese national was also abducted allegedly by a group of fellow Chinese on board black car. It stated that one of the abductors was also carrying a gun.
Recently in Taguig City, the police denied there was a series of kidnapping incidents in the city.
“Social media posts on children and women being kidnapped in Taguig are not true. For the information of everyone, no one has so far come forward to officially file a report with the police. Until then, these are all rumors and mere attempts at creating fear among residents of the city, for whatever evil purpose,” the Taguig City police said in a statement.
It also warned netizens about spreading fake news.
“As for those who are behind the rumor-mongering, consider yourselves warned. Spreading fake news is and will always be wrong, and it will only be a matter of time before you face the consequences for your irresponsible actions,” the police added.