AUTHORITIES in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte has rescued a 16-year-old teenage girl who was abducted by two unidentified male suspects while she was jogging.
In a press release provided by the Sto. Tomas Municipal Information Office, the teenage girl was rescued on Tuesday morning, March 16, after she was abducted in Purok 2 in Barangay Esperanza.
Sto. Tomas Mayor Ernesto Evangelista said he immediately ordered an investigation after learning about the incident.
Evangelista said he instructed Police Major Frederick Deles, chief of Sto. Tomas police, to probe the incident and ordered a hot pursuit operation to track down suspects in the abduction of the teenage girl on the same day.
Based on the police's initial report, the 16-year-old was out for a routine jog around 6:45 a.m. when two unidentified suspects wearing bonnets pointed a gun at her and kidnapped her onboard a motorcycle. The kidnappers, with the victim, escaped toward Tagum City.
Around 8:30 a.m., the kidnapped victim was found alive in Barangay Bincungan in Tagum City.
The victim was immediately endorsed to Tagum City Police Station and was eventually turned over to the Women's and Children's Desk for further investigation and medical examination.
The mayor said he instructed the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSDO) to provide counseling for the victim and whatever assistance she and her family needed the most in these trying times.
"It is essential for her and her family to receive resources and counseling, particularly if their distress from the incident is now interfering with their daily lives. The victim needs to feel that she is safe and secure in the environment or in the community she belongs to," Evangelista said.
Meanwhile, Deles appealed to the parents to ensure their children's safety when they go out, especially now that community restrictions had been relaxed under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
The IATF has eased the age restrictions in areas under MGCQ, allowing children aged 10 years old and above to go out, but Deles said this does not mean that parents should let their children go out at their disposal as those covered by the age restrictions could only go out of their homes to access essential items and services.
"This kidnapping case should spark enough attention for the Tomasino community. This would serve as an eye-opener to the parents that at the end of the day, it's always their judgment call that prevails when we talk about the safety of their children," Deles said.
The police chief emphasized that parents should be mindful of the safety of their children once they go out of their houses.
"If it is not essential, we think that they should not be allowed to go out. We reiterate our appeal, and we hope that they get the message clearly," Deles said.
