Residents of a village in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur dismissed a text message and e-mail sent to ABS-CBN Regional Network Group that a mermaid was caught by a fisherman's net recently.

At least three residents denied the claim of Alejandro Maniego who said that he saw the mermaid, estimated to be around 13 years old, as it was brought to the gymnasium in the nearby town of Lianga where people rushed to take a look at the half-human, half-fish creature.

Residents said that the story might had been the handiwork of someone who has a fertile imagination.

Relatedly, the Philippine National Police also branded as a hoax text messages being spread warning parents against kidnappers supposedly targeting and killing children in Luzon to sell their internal organs.

Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said police regional directors and local government units found no evidence to support rumors of alleged abductions in Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and Zambales.

“There is no truth in those text messages allegedly saying that a group is kidnapping children and using a van with plate number VMM 507,” he told radio dzMM. For one thing, he said the Land Transportation Office revealed that the plate number is non-existent.  

He said two children reported missing in Batangas were eventually reunited with their respective families.  

He urged the people not to pass "disinformation” to their friends when they receive such text messages. He also said the public can call 117, 2920 or 09178475757 if there are incidents of kidnapping in their areas.