Police arrest serenading kidnapper in Quezon City

February 26, 2019

Authorities on Monday arrested a suspected kidnapper in Quezon City.

National Capital Region Police Director Guillermo Eleazar said the accused, Norly Rafael, was under barangay custody at Pres. Quezon St. Extension, Barangay Commonwealth when he was apprehended by police around 12:30 pm last Monday.

Rafael was brought to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig where he was presented by the NCRPO chief.

His arrest came after parents of five would-be victims asked for help from the Regional Special Operation Unit.

Investigation revealed the suspect forcibly abducted his victims, mostly minors, but they all managed to escape.  The suspect’s modus is to give chocolates or coins to children.

 “If you notice, his face is already different maybe because the people mobbed him,” Eleazar said.

Suspects claimed it was the policemen who hurt him but a parent said Rafael was mobbed even before reaching the barangay hall.

Based on a parent's narration, the suspect grabbed her nine-year-old daughter but they were able to escape.

The mother said the suspect carried her daughter after giving coins and told her that she can’t handle her child.

Another parent said his four-year-old boy was grabbed by Rafael Saturday evening while others alleged him of abducting their children last week.

However, the suspect denied these claims, saying he is serenading in the residence as his sideline aside from being a construction worker.

In a photo that went viral, a guy holding a guitar was seen trying to kidnap children and Rafael was caught by police holding the same guitar.

It is believed that Rafael serenades houses in different places to check if there are any children he can abduct.

Eleazar said they don’t want this incident to cause fear to parents that’s why they presented the suspect and his supposed victims.

“We don’t want to create unnecessary panic and alarm that’s why we present this and to explain there is clearly no kidnapping,” he said.

“We don’t want this kind of person roaming around causing fear to our children,” said Eleazar.

He asked for the public’s help if they have information about the abduction activities of the suspect.

Cases for violation of Article 267 paragraph 4 of the Revised Penal Code (Kidnapping) and Violation of Section 10, Article VI of RA 7610 (Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse,  Cruelty or Exploitation and other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's Development) are being prepared for filing in court against the suspect.  Ella Dionisio/DMS