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THE spate of kidnapping attempt of teenagers in some municipalities has alarmed, not only the parents concerned, but also the Women’s Development Council (WDC), a non-government organization and GABRIELA, which stands for General Assembly Binding Women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership and Action.

Also, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Bohol chapter through secretary-general Marlene G. Estorosas voiced similar concern over the incidence, including the recent disappearance of two high school studes in a prestigious school in this city. Until now their wherabouts remain unknown.

Recently, Calape police station said that the alleged kidnapping of two high school students last week turned out to be a “false alarm,” P01 Edwin Fronteras said in an interview yesterday noon.

A second year high school student (name withheld) of Dauis, Bohol “alleged that on March 26, 2007 while she was at BQ Mall, Tagbilaran City she was forcibly pick-up by the suspect in a person of Gilbert Manago, 18 years old, single a resident of CPG East , Boholan, Tagbilaran City.” The victim was brought to the house of the suspect, according to the police records of the police.

The victim’s mother Patricia Nistal Loquinte, 53 years old, married, a resident of Songculan, Dauis told the police for record purposes that her daughter disappeared on March 24, 2007. Her daughter left home on that day and “failed to return home.” She was then wearing black T-shirt with maong pants when she disappeared. The case is still under probe, police said.

Estrella Taganahan Espinosa, executive director of the WDC based here, said her group is also following-up the case of the two lost students (names withheld), whose whereabouts remain mysterious since the disappear a month ago. It was learned by WDC that the case of the duo are being handled by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Following an open forum regarding the lost of disappearance of young kids held last week, Estorosas and Espinoza urged the sectors concerned to help solve the menace. Both women leaders said that parents should play a vital role as their duty in protecting their children.

Former Davao City councilor Luz Ilagan, the number two nominee of Gabriela party-list, was the guest speaker on said forum on women disappearance held at Matig-a Lodge recently.

Bohol, according to women’s groups, is both a point of origin and destination as far as trafficking in persons is concerned. Most of the victims are women and children who ended up in child labor and sex exploitation, they said.

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published in the Bohol Standard 4-29-2007

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