By Freddie Velez
PAOMBONG, Bulacan — A child offender previously jailed in Tanauan City, Batangas, was arrested in Barangay Sto. Rosario, here, last night after allegedly trying to force four minors into his passenger jeepney.
Chief Inspector Lynelle F. Solomon, local chief of police, identified the arrested man as Noel Fruelda Medrano, 34, of Barangay Barualte, San Juan, Batangas.
Solomon did not reveal the identities of the four minors from Barangay Sto. Rosario, but assured they were out of danger.
He said village watchmen alerted police to arrest Medrano, minutes after they received the complaint of the four minors who were then panting as they ran away from the suspect.
Medrano told probers he was in Bulacan to visit a friend in Hagonoy town when he chanced upon the four minors at a compound and enticed them to join him to go to a mall in the City of Malolos.
The minors said Medrano was forcing them to ride in a passenger jeepney to go with him so they ran away to seek help.
Solomon said a background check on Medrano showed that he was arrested and detained at the Tanuan City Jail in Batangas for child abuse and was only released last December.
In his report to Senior Superintendent Romeo M. Caramat Jr., Bulacan police director, Solomon said Medrano was still being held pending the filing of appropriate charges against him.