The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Pangasinan have belied reports of at least two kidnapping incidents in the province.
The incidents involved the alleged attempted kidnapping of a 10-year-old girl in Dagupan City and the alleged attempted abduction of another child in Bugallon.
In the first incident, the parents of a 10-year-old girl claimed a teenage boy allegedly tried to kidnap their child in Barangay Bonuan as the girl was going down from a jeepney, only that the girl reportedly managed to pull away. She reportedly sought help from an enforcer.
The barangay captain, Manuel Bumanglag, said the area where the alleged incident happened is filled with people, including tanods and other barangay personnel.
"Yung pinangyarihan naman, maraming tao kasi harap ng CSI Bonuan, may mga tanod, ERT at POSO. Pagkatapos daw na nakawala sa paghawak niya [yung bata], humiga pa raw sa kalsada 'yung teenager [na umano'y naghila sa bata], parang kumukuha ng atensyon, parang sumisigaw-sigaw," Bumanglag said.
The alleged incident in Barangay Magtaking, Bugallon supposedly involved another child who the supposed suspects tried to pull into a white van.
"Ayon sa kwento ng bata kasi na-interview siya ng mga Brgy. Official, nagsumbong nga daw siya na may biglang huminto na puting van at siya daw ay hinihila papasok sa sasakyan at siya ay nakatakbo. ‘Yun ang report na natanggap ng Brgy. Magtaking," PCPT. Renan Dela Cruz, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office Public Information Officer, said.
These accounts, the PNP found later, were baseless. In the supposed incident in Bugallon, for example, no child was being forced into any vehicle, based on CCTV footage.
"Noong binirepika natin ito napanood natin sa CCTV na walang nagyaring pamimilit o pagkuha sa bata na nangyari. Naka-stop ang sasakyan, may tao sa loob, at walang indikasyon ang bata, ‘yung bata [ay] nasa store, andoon lang siya nakatambay," Dela Cruz said.
Police said it is possible that the reports were sensationalized even before authorities could verify them.
Nevertheless, the PNP said it will intensify presence in the two areas where the supposed incidents took place.
