Teen fails to attend graduation after being ‘abducted’ in Iloilo City

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Trembling and on the verge of crying, a 19-year-old lad sought help from a resident of Barangay San Antonio, San Miguel, Iloilo at around 2 p.m. on June 19.

Junjun (real name withheld) claimed that he was abducted around 1 pm at Barangay Libertad-Santa Isabel, Jaro, Iloilo City.

The woman who helped Junjun claimed that the teary-eyed teenager told her that several men in a white van forced him to board the vehicle.

His “abductors” allegedly took his wallet but left his mobile phone.

The suspects later kicked him out of the vehicle after realizing that they picked up the wrong person.

The woman claimed that when Junjun told her that he was “kidnapped,” she looked around but did not see any van.

She claimed to have doubts about what really happened but still helped the teenager.

The San Miguel Police Station responded to the area after the case was reported.

After hearing Junjun’s version of the story, they endorsed his case to the Iloilo City Police Station (ICPS) 3.

On their end, Captain Lester Oliveros, ICPS3 chief, said investigators were sent to the area where the supposed abduction happened.

It was near a big grocery store and was also surrounded by houses.

Not one resident corroborated Junjun’s claims that two men went near him and covered his head with a black garbage sack.

As alleged, the two men then carried him inside the van where there were around three other men.

Later on, he claimed to have heard one of the men saying, “daw indi man ina si Roland.”

Upon this “realization,” he was allegedly kicked out of the van at San Miguel town.

Aside from the lack of a witness, evidence also did not favor Junjun’s claims.

Oliveros said investigators checked several CCTV cameras in the area, including the high-resolution CCTV camera near the village chief’s house.

Junjun was there along with some family members and officials of Barangay Libertad-Santa Isabel during the review of the camera footage.

“We reviewed the footage taken before and after the alleged abduction but we didn’t see him pass by the area,” he said.

Oliveros noted that the teenager was silent and did not show any emotion during the entire CCTV viewing time.

On Junjun’s claim that he was kicked out of the van, the San Miguel police investigator claimed they found no stain on his shirt or pants. He also did not sustain any hematoma or even scratches from the fall.

Meanwhile, Junjun’s mother claimed that they were unable to attend the teenager’s graduation because of the incident.

They were allegedly preparing to go to school when they were informed about the incident.

His mother claimed that the boy is her 6th child and an honor student.

As this developed, Oliveros said they have considered the incident as “closed” since the family asked that they will just do their own investigation.

The teenager’s family also asked the police that they be given the leeway to go to his school to check on his records.