Senators Ramon Revilla, Jr. and Imee Marcos urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate reports circulating on social media of increasing abduction, particularly of young women.
In a letter addressed to PNP Chief Police General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Friday, Revilla asked the police to “seriously look into the matter” as the recent reports are causing “widespread panic and concern.”
“We have to be certain as to the truth or falsity of these reports. If true, then the PNP should waste no effort in apprehending the perpetrators,” he asserted.
But if the reports were proven false or hoaxes, Revilla said the PNP should ensure that those responsible must be identified and held accountable.
He said he has been receiving concerns from parents expressing their anxiety over their children’s safety, especially since face-to-face classes have begun.
“I challenge the new leadership of the PNP to address this and put closure on this issue,” he stressed.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Marcos also expressed her concern over the violence and abduction of female children.
“Hinihiling ko sa PNP at NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) na agarang imbestigahan at patawan ng parusa ang pagkawala ng mga indibidwal, lalo na ang mga kabataang babae na ginahasa na, brutal pang pinatay,” she said.
“Dapat wala silang sasantuhin,” Marcos emphasized.
The PNP on Friday said it has requested social media pages to take down false and recycled posts on crimes such as attempted rape, abduction, and alleged missing persons.
Azurin ordered all police units to intensify monitoring of the widespread circulation of false information, especially those that pose threats that may stir up conflict.
On Thursday, the PNP Chief assured the public that the peace and order situation in the country is still “manageable” and claimed that the “crime rate is still low.”
In his speech during the anniversary celebration at the Police Regional Office, Azurin mentioned that crime data has decreased to 45.24 percent under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration as compared to former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s time.
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) immediately refuted the PNP Chief's statement and asserted the data does not match with the current situation wherein prevalent kidnappings and killings are reported.
