19-anyos na estudyante, arestado matapos umanong gumawa ng pekeng kidnapping

Published 4 Sep 2026 at 3:54 PM

by Rose Dabu

3 min read

A 19-year-old college student was arrested in Lipa, Batangas after allegedly pretending that he had been kidnapped to get ransom money from his parents
His mother received messages and videos demanding ₱300,000 in exchange for his supposed release
Police conducted backtracking and eventually located the student inside a hotel, where authorities learned that the kidnapping was allegedly staged
He later admitted what he had done and said financial problems linked to gámbling and debt pushed him to come up with the scheme

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A 19-year-old college student was arrested in Lipa, Batangas after allegedly staging his own kidnapping in an attempt to get money from his parents.

Pekeng kidnap — Photo: Pexels
Source: UGC

According to a report on GMA News' Unang Balita, the student's mother received a message through social media claiming that her son had been kidnapped.

The supposed kidnappers demanded ₱300,000 in ransom in exchange for his release. His family was reportedly given only two hours to send the money.

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The family also received videos involving the 19-year-old student. In one clip, he could reportedly be seen crying. Another video showed him giving a message to his parents as if he believed something bad might happen to him.

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Concerned about her son's safety, the mother sought help from authorities.

Police immediately worked to determine the student's location. Through backtracking, investigators were eventually able to trace him to a hotel in Lipa.

What initially appeared to be a kidnapping case later took a different turn.

According to the report, investigators found that the student had allegedly made up the kidnapping. Authorities said there was no actual abduction, and the 19-year-old eventually admitted what he had done.

He also explained why he resorted to the scheme.

The student said he had fallen into debt and became afraid that he would not be able to settle what he owed. He reportedly planned to use the money he hoped to receive from his parents to pay his debts.

He also admitted that gámbling had contributed to his financial problem.

Speaking about his decision, the student said, “Yun ang ginawa kong way para manolusyunan yung problema.”

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His explanation came after authorities uncovered the circumstances surrounding his supposed disappearance.

The incident prompted a police response because his family initially believed that he was in danger. Officers had to trace his location and investigate the messages and videos sent to his mother before determining what had allegedly happened.

Reports said the student was taken into police custody following the discovery.

He is expected to face the appropriate complaint in connection with the incident. Authorities did not disclose his identity in the Unang Balita report.

The case also serves as a reminder of how financial problems, including debts related to gámbling, can lead to serious consequences when handled through unlawful means.

Watch the video below:

In another report, A school in Barangay Sauyo, Quezon City was robbed of more than P313,000 worth of equipment and cash after two men allegedly entered the compound past midnight on Saturday. According to James Agustin’s report on GMA’s Unang Balita on August 26, CCTV footage showed one man climbing over a railing inside the school. He was later seen inside the administrative office, where he appeared to search through the area. His alleged accomplice was also captured by a security camera.