The chief of the Bacolod Women and Concern Desk spotted and chased the L-300 white van reportedly used by at least six persons tagged as "bonnet gang" members who abducted a college student in Brgy. Mandalagan Tuesday last week, but failed to catch them.

Insp. Sara Jean Recla, WCCD chief, yesterday said she was visiting a friend at the Our Lady of Mercy Specialty Hospital in Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City when she spotted the white L-300 van in the area.

Recla said she immediately boarded her car and chased the van that rushed through Provincial Capitol Lagoon. She said she sought assistance from the City Mobile Group and other police units to augment the operation, but the van fled to downtown Bacolod and disappeared.

She said she suspected the white L-300 van to be the vehicle used by the alleged "bonnet gang" members who abducted a teenager in front of the Robinson's Mall in Brgy. Mandalagan on Jan. 3 and molested her.

Recla, meanwhile, said the WCCD has cartographic sketches of the suspects as described by the complainant. She said she will distribute the pictures to the police stations to help in their possible arrest.

Initial investigation said the complainant had received several threats from unidentified persons before the incident. The suspects, who were also teenagers, and described to be from wealthy families, knew her personally and even monitored her daily activities, Recla said.

She said the complainant who is now in a trauma, failed to return to the WCCD office for further investigation.

Meanwhile, Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, Bacolod City police director yesterday, said the van chased by Recla could be the vehicle used by the suspects or not, but he has nevertheless directed his men to be more vigilant, conduct checkpoint operations in their areas, and flag down taxicabs with tinted window glass, and endorse them to the Land Transportation Office for proper action.

Merced said it seems some people want to ride on the situation, following the two cases involving the so-called "bonnet gang". He said the alleged gang rape involving a teenager in Brgy. Mandalagan and the robbery hold-up involving a woman who rode a taxi and who was reportedly held up by two persons wearing bonnets, and who dropped her in Kabankalan City, were different incidents.

A 22-year-old woman reported to Police Precinct 8 Sunday that five unidentified persons, four of them wearing bonnets attempted to abduct her while she was waiting a passenger jeepney in front of the Servando's Department Store at Araneta Street in Bacolod City on Dec. 24, 2005.

Case investigator PO2 Ronie Benitua told the DAILY STAR yesterday that the woman, whose identity is being withheld by the police told them that a gray-colored van stopped in front of her and one of its passengers jumped out of the vehicle and pulled her hand but she was able to escape. On Friday, Benitua said the woman claimed an unidentified person approached her again in front of the Grand Regal Hotel at Araneta Street in the city and talked to her.

She said the man who acted suspiciously told her to be careful, and this prompted her to report the incidents to the police.

Meanwhile, complainant Gen Mar Guillaran of Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City failed to identify the drivers of R&M Taxi Lines managed by Manolita Belleza who were subjected to a line-up at Police Precinct 1 for her yesterday afternoon.

On Tuesday last week, Guillaran was reportedly abducted by two unidentified persons allegedly wearing bonnets and left her in Kabankalan City after taking her P15,000 in cash.*DMG

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