A MAN who allegedly tried to abduct children in Quezon City was arrested Monday, February 25, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said.
Eleazar identified the arrested suspect as Norly Rafael.
The arrest was done after operatives of the NCRPO Regional Special Operations Unit received a report around 3:30 p.m. Monday that a man, who allegedly tried to abduct children in Barangay Commonwealth, was cornered and mauled by residents.
Eleazar said Rafael was identified by residents through a viral photo, which shows a man who attempted to snatch several minors.
Based on the report, the modus of Rafael and his two other cohorts was to serenade houses with a guitar to scout their would-be targets.
Rafael, during his arrest Monday, was holding a guitar similar to the one shown in the viral photo.
The parents of the children said the suspects also tried to bribe the minors with candies and coins so they will go with them.
Rafael was presented to the children and their parents who cried upon seeing him.
Rafael said, however, that he was mauled by police to admit the crime he did not commit.
But Eleazar said it was the residents who beat him up, not the police.
As of Tuesday, February 26, Eleazar said there is no reported missing children in the metro.
"Sa ngayon, wala kaming impormasyon o report na nagsasabing may nawala. Gusto kong mailinaw iyon dahil ayokong mag-create ng panic and alarm, dahil may mga impormasyon nitong nakaraang linggo na meron daw nang-aagaw ng bata," he said.
(As of now, we did not receive reports about missing children. I would like to clarify this because I don't want to create panic and alarm because last week, there was information about men allegedly snatching children.)
On Friday evening, February 22, Paulina Kassad Alamada, from Cotabato City, was arrested over attempted kidnapping of two boys in Sampaloc, Manila around 8:30 p.m.
According to reports, the victims were able to escape from Alamada and immediately sought the help of village watchmen.
Eleazar urged the parents to take extra care of their children.
"Ayaw nating magkaroon ng agam-agam sa ating mga magulang, bagama't talagang dapat mag-ingat...Tayo ay nananawagan na ilapit sa atin iyon (kidnapping incidents). Ipagbigay alam para ating maimbestigahan," he said. (VoxPop Philippines)