A 13-year-old Filipino-American girl from Bacolod City was rescued by the police from the house of her “Facebook friend” in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, at about 8 p.m. Friday after almost three weeks since she had been reported missing.

Bacolod City Women and Children’s Complaints Desk chief, Insp. Jovy Cabcaban said the parents of the girl, whose name the police withheld, reported that she went missing January 29.

Cabcaban said the rescue was conducted after the parents learned that her “Facebook friend” brought her to his residence in La Carlota City.

The suspect, 18, whose name is also being withheld, however, claimed that he did not force the girl to come with him and that she is his girlfriend.

Cabcaban stressed that even if the girl was not forced, the suspect could still face charges for abduction in relation to Republic Act 7610 or child abuse since she is a minor.

Cabcaban said that she is waiting for the girl’s parents to execute their affidavits of complaint so they can file charges against the suspect, who is now in police custody.

She advised the parents to guide their children, especially those who are minors, about using social networking sites like Facebook to avoid incidents like this.*APN

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