Police rule out kidnapping in Ica Policarpio case

Police have ruled out kidnapping as the reason for Ica Policarpio's disappearance, but will still investigate the persons who talked to the teenager last, according to Rida Reyes' report on "24 Oras Weekend."

The 17-year-old from Muninlupa City, who went missing on Thursday, was found in a carinderia on Leon Guinto Street in Barangay II-B in San Pablo, Laguna early Sunday morning.

"Nakita siya ng mga tanod na nasa tabi ng carinderia. Yung bata, gutom, but initially she looks okay and she's now safe with her family and under police custody," said Southern Police District Chief Superintendent Tomas Apolinario.

The report said that a tricycle driver named Manny Fronda had been on his way to buy pandesal at 5 a.m. when he saw the 17-year-old girl crying by the side of the road.

"Parang may hinihintay, parang nawawala. Ayaw umimik. Pinasulat na namin 'yung pangalan niya, 'yung number ng nanay tinatawagan," Fronda said.

A local official called the San Pablo police and the PNP Region 4A office, and the Policarpios immediately went to San Pablo to retrieve the girl.

Ica's father Rufino Policarpio said that she seemed tired when they were reunited.

"Nakita namin siya, I don't see any visible signs na meron siyang ano... except that she's really ano na, parang pagod," he told reporters.

Policarpio also recalled that he had told her off for something days before she went missing.

"Mga days before, a day before I think... medyo napagsabihan ko siya about something. Pero alam ko na-settle namin 'yun eh," he said.

Whether this has any bearing on Ica's disappearance, National Capital Region Police Office chief Oscar Albayalde had some words of advice for both parents and children. "Alam mo naman 'yung mga bata, mapusok, mapagalitan lang eh akala nila hindi na sila mahal ng kanilang magulang," he told GMA News.

"['Y]ung ating mga magulang, first line of defense 'yan, kailangan natin malaman kung sinu-sino ang mga kaibigan ng ating mga anak," he added. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News