Belmonte cautions on kidnapping rumor

Following online posts of alleged kidnapping incidents of children in Quezon City, Mayor Joy Belmonte exhorted the public to cease from sharing unverified reports to prevent unnecessary panic.

In a Facebook post, the mayor admitted that she met with Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo to verify the news.

“For the information of our citizens, I spoke to QCPD chief B/Gen Montejo as soon as I read the first post. I also spoke to him first thing this morning. He says no reports have come in to the QCPD of kidnappings of any kind and the only one he is aware of is a kidnapping in Pasay City. The news media is also silent on this matter,” Belmonte said.

Apparently, the news of kidnapping has frightened many concerned parents from leaving their houses for fear of being victimized by criminal elements.

“I urge our citizens to stop spreading unconfirmed news because you are causing unnecessary panic,” she stressed.

“In the absence of confirmation of any kind, please remain calm and refrain from causing unnecessary anxiety among our people by spreading hearsay. This is very irresponsible and itself a public menace,” she added.

The mayor said she is closely coordinating with QCPD on the matter.

“Meanwhile if you have first-hand information about any such incident, please report this ASAP to our QCPD or/and to me for immediate action. Gen Montejo has promised to report to me after he has conducted a thorough investigation of these supposedly massive kidnappings,” Belmonte said.

“In the spirit of transparency, I assure you I will be the first to report to you if these alleged kidnapping cases have been validated,” she added.