Van-riding men nearly abduct 9-year-old near Iloilo school

Men aboard a white van nearly abducted a nine-year-old girl near her school in Pototan town in Iloilo province on Tuesday.

The girl said the men tried to lure her with bread, then tried to chase her when she ran, GMA Iloilo's Fabienne Paderes reported on Thursday.

The incident left the girl traumatized and unable to sleep, the report said.

"Sabi niya, o, iyo lang tong tinapay, halika dito, halika.  Kinawayan niya ako. Pagkatapos nun, tumakbo ako, hinabol naman ako ng lalaki pati yung sasakyan. Lumiko yung sasakyan..., papunta namang Dapitan [area]," the girl said.

Also, she recalled seeing other children inside the van. She said the other children appeared to be gagged with towels, some of them appearing to be unconscious.

"Sa sasakyan, may takip yung bibig nila (ng) tuwalya... Marami (ang bata sa loob ng van). Yung iba nahimatay na," she said.

Pototan police are verifying the information but Pototan police chief Senior Inspector Ariel Corcino appealed to parents to report such incidents.

Corcino also reminded children not to go along with strangers.

"Yung mga bata kailangan alam din nila kung anong gagawin sa ganitong mga pagkakataon. Hindi sila dapat sumama sa mga taong hindi nila kilala," he said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News