By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has refuted reports of an alleged abduction of a woman in Barangay Banago, which circulated widely on social media on Wednesday night.
Police Capt. Rondyl Tapang, head of Police Station 3, confirmed on Thursday that the 23-year-old woman, who was rumored to have been taken by unknown individuals, is safe.
“We were able to reach out to the family of the alleged victim and verified that she is safe,” Tapang said.
The allegations stemmed from a viral video showing a woman being taken into a red sedan by a group of people. The video, which was recorded using a cellphone and shared multiple times online, caused alarm among Bacolod residents.
Tapang noted that the source of the original video could not be traced, as the circulating footage appeared to be a re-recording of the initial post.
Upon learning about the incident, police immediately responded to the area and conducted an investigation. Tapang, however, declined to provide additional details about the individuals seen in the video and their connection to the woman.
Tapang encouraged the public to report incidents directly to authorities rather than relying solely on social media.
“Posting a video on social media is okay, but if it involves a sensitive case, it is better to immediately report the incident to the authorities so that police can quickly act on it,” Tapang emphasized.
He also reminded the public to exercise responsibility when posting content online, particularly when it could cause unnecessary panic or alarm.
The BCPO’s swift action and verification of the case aimed to reassure the public and ensure that accurate information prevails amid social media speculation.
