Alleged abduction in Naga, Cebu: Suspect, a loan officer, arrested

A loan officer landed in jail after allegedly abducting a 25-year-old woman to a lodging house in Barangay South Poblacion, Naga City, Cebu on Thursday, September 14,2023. | Paul Lauro

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 42-year-old loan officer was arrested by police after he allegedly abducted a woman who was borrowing money from their office in South Poblacion, Naga City, Cebu on Thursday morning, September 14, 2023.

The alleged abduction in Naga occurred at past 10:00 a.m. and was reported to the police at around 12:45 a.m. 

Police Lieutenant Colonel William Homoc, in his report, identified the alleged suspect as 42-year-old Ryan Olmedo, married, and a native of Olmedo Street, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental.

Olmedo works as a loan officer of a micro finance institution, according to police.

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The victim is a 25-year-old woman who lives in Purok Lomboy, Barangay Lutac, Naga City, Cebu. Her identity will be withheld for her safety.

Victim brought to lodging house

Police staff sergeant Ariel Yap, investigator from the Naga City Police station, told CDN Digital in a phone interview that the victim narrated how she went to the suspect’s office on the morning of the incident to apply for a loan.

He said that the woman was able to get a loan of P3,000 through a cheque. However, the victim said that the suspect told her that she needed to go somewhere with him to sign a document for her loan.

The puzzled victim was then made to ride on the suspect’s motorcycle and was brought to a lodging house located in the same barangay.

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Upon arrival, Olmedo allegedly asked the caretaker of the establishment if there were any vacant rooms. This alarmed the victim, who immediately ran away from the suspect while they were at the entrance of the establishment, according to Yap.

Yap also stated that the victim arrived at the police station to report the alleged abduction minutes later.

He said that responding personnel went to the suspect’s workplace to bring him to the station but did not find him there.

However, the suspect voluntarily went to the station on the same day, in the hopes of clearing his name, said Yap.

With the victim’s allegations of an abduction, the suspect was then arrested by police.

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According to Yap, Olmedo is now detained at the Naga City Police Station waiting for the filing of appropriate charges against him.

He will be facing charges of abduction, added Yap.

Naga City is located approximately 20 kilometers south of Cebu City.

/bmjo