Police again urged the public to remain vigilant against purported activities of a group roaming Bohol on board a van to abduct children along roads as another alleged kidnap attempt was reported in Cortes.
According to PO1 Gregorio Pacot of the Cortes Police Station, two brothers, aged 7 and 11, were walking along the national road in Brgy. Loreto of said town when a black van suddenly blocked their path.
A bonnet-clad man alighted the van and attempted to take the children who were able to run away and escape, the kids’ parents narrated to police.
The van and the unidentified man did not go after the children, they added.
Police in Cortes are now investigating the case as a possible kidnap attempt.
Last week, reports on another similar attempt to take a group of children surfaced in Tubigon.
Accounts that reached the town’s police indicated that the children were also able to escape as they ran out of fear when a van reportedly also stopped in front of them.
Authorities in Tubigon have since been on alert as police and Army personnel have been dispatched to secure villages and urge residents to be wary of the alleged kidnappers.
In other towns such as Sikatuna, Sierra Bullones and Valencia, concerned citizens have also reported similar incidents in their respective areas.
The reports have prompted authorities to urge the public to not let their children roam their villages unaccompanied. (Allen Doydora)