What was initially reported to be a kidnapping of a woman in Iloilo over a week ago turned out to be a hoax allegedly machinated by the supposed victim herself.

Mary Ann Lozada Senal, 31, who her husband Rodel reported to police as kidnapped in Iloilo on October 15, will be charged with unjust vexation after she allegedly faked her own kidnapping, said Captain Gereon Item of the Bohol police Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB).

Her husband could also file a kidnapping case against her, Item added.

Mary was tracked down by a unit from the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) in Guindulman prompting its team leader Maj. Anthony Autencio to coordinate with the PIB earlier this week.

According to Item, Mary was found by police at the residence of her boyfriend Ariel Barrera who she met through Facebook by tracing the cellphone used to demand for a P100,000 ransom from Rodel for her supposed release.

“Pananghid niya [Mary] sa iyang pamilya interview kuno siya og trabaho, unya wa na mo balik, wa na mo uli,” Item said. “Nakadawat dayon siya [Rodel] og text na ‘hawak namo imong asawa’ unya gihatagan siya og two weeks para mo bayad og P100,000.”

The PIB, PNP-AKG and the Guindulman Police Station arrested Mary in Barangay Cabugan Norte in Guindulman on Wednesday morning after four days of tracking her exact whereabouts in the municipality.

Police however did not arrest Barrera who denied any involvement in the scam, which the AKG now considers as a “kidnap-me” case.

Mary also told police that Barrera was not involved in the scheme.

“Based sa testimony, wa siyay [Barrera] kalibutan,” Item said, adding that Barrera cooperated with the police in their investigation.

Meanwhile, Mary was placed under the custody of the AKG. She was detained overnight at Camp Francisco Dagohoy in Tagbilaran City.

Item said that she was transported by the AKG to Iloilo on Thursday morning and was turned over to authorities in the province. (WM)