Tatlong menor-de-edad, tinangka umanong dukutin ng isang 21-anyos na driver sa Iloilo

– Three minor girls allegedly became victims of attempted abduction in Oton, Iloilo

– The minors, two 12-year-olds and a 14-year-old, claim a 21-year-old driver offered them a ride home but then deviated from their route, prompting them to jump from the moving car

– Two of the minors sustained scrapes and bruises after leaping from the car to escape the alleged abduction attempt

– The identified driver, who appeared at the police station, denies malicious intent, stating he was startled when the girls jumped

Three young girls, two aged 12 and one 14, claim they narrowly escaped an alleged abduction attempt in Oton, Iloilo, on the evening of May 8.

The incident reportedly involved a 21-year-old male driver who offered them a ride home, but then deviated from their intended route, prompting two of the girls to jump from the moving vehicle.

The events unfolded around 7:39 PM on May 8, as captured by closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

Footage showed a car turning onto Sunset Boulevard in Barangay Cagbang, where the girls subsequently entered the vehicle.

According to the 14-year-old victim, she and her companions were walking along Sunset Boulevard when the car pulled up and the driver inquired about directions to Oton town proper.

It was then that the driver allegedly encouraged them to get into the car for a ride home.

However, as they neared their residences, the driver reportedly changed direction, causing the girls to become alarmed.

“Pagsakay namin, ang sabi niya may pupuntahan lang siya. Paglabas namin (sa Sunset Boulevard), nagtuloy-tuloy lang siya. Sumigaw kami ngunit hindi naman naririnig,” one of the girls recounted.

In a desperate bid to escape, one of the 12-year-old girls, who was in the back seat, opened the door and jumped out of the moving car.

Another girl, seated beside the driver, followed suit, also leaping from the vehicle. Both girls sustained scrapes and bruises from their daring escape.

The third girl, who remained in the car, pleaded with the driver to let her out, to which he eventually complied before driving away.

With the aid of CCTV footage, the vehicle was identified, leading to the driver’s appearance at the police station on Sunday, May 18.

The 21-year-old driver, an Iloilo City resident and student, denied having any malicious intent towards the girls.

According to Police Master Sergeant Ma. Elena Doliguez, head of the Women and Children Protection Desk at the Oton Municipal Police Station, the driver claimed he was merely startled by the girls’ sudden actions.

The driver was not detained by the police, as the reglementary period for the alleged offense had lapsed by the time he presented himself.

Despite the driver’s denial and the procedural limitations for immediate detention, the families of the young girls are resolute in pursuing legal action.

They emphasize the profound trauma the incident has inflicted upon the minors. “Tuwing gabi hindi sila makatulog [nang maayos]. Tuwing nakikita nila ang tao, natatakot talaga sila,” stated the mother of one of the girls.

The grandmother of another victim shared that her granddaughter now refuses to ride in taxis or cars, preferring only tricycles.

“Hindi ako madadala ng pera kahit mahirap lang kami. Ipaglalaban ko ito,” the grandmother declared, signaling their determination to seek justice for the emotional distress and alleged attempted abduction.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, a man was arrested in Antipolo after authorities found P700,000 worth of suspected metamphetamine hydrochloride or street crack. The man, identified by authorities as alias “Pablo,” was apprehended after a predawn chase and found with 100 grams of the suspected illegal substance. Police investigation suggests the arrested individual was part of a drug group and tasked with killing members who failed to remit payments. The suspect fled from patrolling officers and discarded a bag containing the suspected shabu and a weighing scale.

Meanwhile in news abroad, a cat attempting to smuggle drug5 inside the Pococi Penitentiary in Costa Rica was captured by authorities. The cat was allegedly found to carry illegal substances like mar1juana leaves and crack paste. The feline’s cargo, which also included some rolling papers, reportedly weighed around 303 grams in total. Authorities are currently investigating to identify who equipped the cat and how the drug5 were meant to be delivered inside the prison.