THE Talamban Police Station has debunked claims on social media that a young woman was abducted in front of a university in Sitio Nasipit, Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 26, 2025.
Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay, deputy city director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office, said that based on the investigation conducted by Talamban police—through reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing people, including security guards in the area—no commotion or abduction was observed.
There were also no reports filed with the police regarding a missing student or a family member who failed to return home since Sunday, which would confirm that an abduction took place.
“We haven’t received any confirmatory or corroborating evidence that will prove that that particular observation really happened, days after the posting up until now wala man g’yuy ni come forward nga somebody was still missing, mga family, relatives, schoolmates, school or whatever (and even up until now, no one has come forward to report a missing person—whether it be family members, relatives, schoolmates, the school, or anyone else),” said Macatangay.
She added that no one had come forward to validate the claim or provide a corroborating statement about someone being missing.
A Facebook post on Sunday alleging the abduction stated that the vehicle sped northward and turned onto Cabancalan Road in Mandaue City. The netizen was unable to determine where it went afterward.
The post was deleted after a few hours.
When asked if the police would take any action against the netizen, Macatangay said they would not file charges against the individual.
However, she urged the public to report any suspicious activity they witnessed on the streets directly to the nearest police station instead of immediately posting it on social media to avoid causing unnecessary public alarm.
“We also don’t want to push for it because it might discourage people from reporting anything unusual they observe. We still encourage the public to report anything they find abnormal in their environment,” Macatangay said in Cebuano.
“However, moving forward, if similar statements are posted, we would greatly appreciate it if they were supported by corroborating material to substantiate the claim. Otherwise, it could create unnecessary anxiety and worry among the general public,” she added.
The police continue to urge the public to stay vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activities to the authorities so they can take prompt action. / AYB, WBS