By Dhel Nazario
Pasay City’s top police officer vowed on Tuesday to unravel the case of disappearances in the city, earlier reported on social media to be abduction.
Pasay City Police Chief Col. Bernard Yang told reporters a total of seven cases of missing persons have been reported to him since Monday, after a viral post regarding kidnappings spread online.
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said also on Tuesday that a task force has been created by the Pasay City Police to look into the case of the missing teenagers allegedly abducted in the city in separate incidents.
The mayor urged the public not to post everything online and report information to police to aid investigation of the incident. She also requested barangay officials as well as citizens to be more vigilant.
With regards to the abduction claims, Yang clarified that these are missing person cases and not kidnappings. The victims are from 15 to 22 years old, all male, comprising students, out-of-school youths, and workers.
Yang said that after an interview with the parents of the missing individuals, he has yet to confirm if they are involved in illegal activities.
Investigators have acquired a plate number on which they are coordinating with the Land Transportation Office, but Yang declined to give details as they are conducting follow-up operations to locate the individuals.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage has also been obtained by the police from the barangays where the incidents occurred.
Yang also reminded everyone to report incidents to the police first before posting them on social media. He said there were some steps they could have taken which are no longer feasible because the parents already posted about the matter online.
READ MORE: Pasay mayor orders police to look into alleged cases of abduction in the city, Pasay police reviewing CCTV footages to seek leads on 9 missing youths