Claim: Three girls were kidnapped in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental by a group from Manila.
Why we fact-checked this: The post containing the claim posted on August 15 was posted in a public group specifically for Negros Occidental that has 87,400 members.
The post in Hiligaynon says: “To all riders: Please be alert. There is a group from Manila that is now in La Castellaña, Negros because one of them was caught kidnapping children and teenagers both boys and girls. Earlier in La Carlota, Negros, they kidnapped three teenage girls. Please be alert these are their cars and plate numbers: green van – MM5O7, white van – VXM357. The message is from PNP BACOLOD. Please spread this news, but do not post it, spread it through the inboxes of your relatives, siblings, friends, and children so the group will not be able to read it. Please, this is a sacrifice for us all. Thank you and keep safe to all riders.”
The facts: According to news reports, police offices in Negros Occidental debunked the claim of kidnapping in La Castellana and La Carlota. Digicast Negros, The Visayan Daily Star, and K5 News FM Negros Occidental all reported the claim to be false.
K5 News FM Negros Occidental cited the denial by the La Carlota City police, Digicast Negros quoted the provincial police of Negros Occidental and La Carlota City, while The Visayan Daily Star cited Bacolod City police.
According to an August 16 report of Digicast, La Carlota police chief Lymel John Pasquin denied there was a van roaming around the city, kidnapping children and teenagers. He said there are no reports of missing persons in La Carlota City.
La Castellana police deputy chief Dennis Melgarejo also denied the circulating claim in the same Digicast report.
The false claim surfaced after a 15-year-old student was found dead in a sugarcane field in Cubay, La Carlota City on August 14. The victim, identified as Pearl Joy Galve, was a student at Sum-ag National High School.
La Carlota police said Galve’s death was an isolated case, as reported by Digicast. – Ailla Dela Cruz/Rappler.com
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