Woman rescued by twin sister after alleged kidnapping in Siargao

A woman was rescued by her twin sister after allegedly being held against her will and physically abused by her former boyfriend in Siargao.

On Sunday's episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Louise shared that she became worried after failing to contact her twin sister, Denise, for three days, while she was in Siargao.

The twins, who grew up together under the care of their grandmother in Cagayan de Oro, said they had always relied on each other. They also worked as call center agents.

Louise said she knew something was wrong when Denise suddenly stopped doing things that were part of their usual communication.

"Hindi siya nag-se-send ng reels. That gave me question sa sarili ko. I'm not feeling well at that time. Nag-investigation na kami," Louise said.

["She wasn't sending reels. That made me question myself. I wasn't feeling well at the time. We already did an investigation."]

Twin uses secret code to ask for help

Louise suspected that Denise's former boyfriend, a Turkish man identified as "Abdul," might be involved in her disappearance.

Before the incident, Louise said Denise had told her that the man was physically abusive.

"I'm giving her advices. As a sister, as a family, 'yun lang naman 'yung magagawa natin. At the end of the day, it's her decision," Louise said.

["I'm giving her advice. As a sister, as family, that's really all we can do. At the end of the day, it's her decision."]

While searching for Denise, Louise received a message from her twin. However, she became more suspicious when Denise refused to appear on a video call and suddenly started communicating in English, which was unusual for the siblings.

Denise later sent a message using words and expressions that only the two of them understood.

"Sabi niya, 'Aan siya-shh'. Tapos, i-nunsend niya," Louise recalled.

["She said, 'Aan siya-shh' then she unsent it."]

Louise asked her, "Bisbihak ka sa suya?" which meant asking if Denise had been taken by the man.

Denise replied, "Oo."

Denise later explained that she deliberately used English because she knew her sister would notice the unusual change in their communication. She also used their secret code, which she described as their own version of gay language.

She was able to secretly share her cell phone's location, allowing Louise and the authorities to trace her to a villa in Siargao.

Louise traveled from Cagayan de Oro City to Siargao and sought police assistance.

Denise found with injuries inside villa

When Louise and the police arrived at the villa, they encountered "Abdul," who initially refused to let them enter.

Louise said she recognized the man immediately. She also noticed that he was holding ice before throwing it away as a police officer responded.

After the authorities entered the room, they found Denise with bruises on her arms and eyes and wounds on her face.

"Nanginig ako. Hindi naiyak. Like, emotional. Kasi, no one, walang sister na makita 'yung sister mo na ginanyan. Especially, I know that kind of feeling," Louise said.

["I was shaking. Not crying, just emotional. Because no sister wants to see her sister treated like that— especially since I know what that feels like"]

Police arrested "Abdul," who is now facing charges of serious illegal detention, forcible abduction with rape, and violation of Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.

KMJS tried to get his side while he was under police custody in Siargao, but he declined to speak unless Denise agreed to talk to him.

Denise, however, said she was not ready to communicate with her former boyfriend.

"It's impossible na makipag-usap ako for now. Siguro pag-ready na ako, pero I don't think there's a reason for me and him to talk about," she said.

["It's impossible for me to talk to him right now. Maybe when I'm ready, though I don't think there's any reason for me and him to talk."]

Denise recounts alleged abuse

Denise said she met "Abdul" during a vacation in Bali, Indonesia, last year. The 34-year-old man had reportedly been staying there for a year and was earning money through cryptocurrency trading.

She initially found him presentable and gentlemanly. However, she recalled that he became violent during a party even before they officially entered a relationship.

Denise said "Abdul" became angry after seeing her casually talking to another man. She alleged that he dragged her into his vehicle, punched her, and took her to his villa.

"Pinasok niya ako sa sasakyan. Tapos, sinuntok niya ako," Denise said.

["He forced me into the car. Then, he punched me."]

She also recalled being dragged into the villa and subjected to further abuse.

The following day, "Abdul" reportedly apologized and promised that the incident would not happen again. Denise said his treatment suddenly changed, making her believe that things would improve.

However, she alleged that the violence continued after they became a couple. During another incident, she said he punched her, took her phone, and choked her when she tried to escape.

Denise eventually returned to the Philippines to get away from him, but they continued communicating. "Abdul" also visited her in Cagayan de Oro City.

She said his growing involvement in cryptocurrency trading affected their relationship, as he would often focus on his phone instead of interacting with her family and friends.

Denise eventually ended the relationship through text and blocked him. She then went on a vacation in Thailand with a friend.

Despite their separation, Denise alleged that "Abdul" continued monitoring her whereabouts through her friend's Facebook account.

"Creepy siya. Sinusundan niya talaga kami kung saan kami. Imagine palipat-lipat na kami ng place ng Thailand," she said.

["He was creepy. He really followed us wherever we went. Imagine, we were already moving from place to place in Thailand."]

She also recalled receiving serious threats from him.

Denise later returned to the Philippines and stayed in Siargao, believing that the island was a familiar and safer place for her.

However, she said "Abdul" eventually found her there. During one encounter, he allegedly took her phone and forced her to talk to him. Police later detained him following the incident, but he was eventually released.

Denise says former boyfriend held her against her will

Denise said she was sleeping inside a villa in Siargao when she woke up and saw "Abdul" in front of her bed.

"Paggising ko, nakita ko siya doon sa harap ng bed. He slowly came to me. Sabi niya huwag daw ako maingay," she recalled.

["When I woke up, I saw him right in front of the bed. He slowly came toward me. He told me not to make a sound."]

She alleged that he was holding a knife and wearing black gloves. When she tried to take the knife away, he punched her several times and hit her with a rock.

Denise said "Abdul" covered her mouth with duct tape and tied her hands and feet, preventing her from leaving or asking for help.

She also alleged that he forced her to reveal her cell phone password and spent the first two days checking her phone.

When "Abdul" saw Louise's social media posts looking for her, he instructed Denise to respond to her sister's messages.

Denise used the opportunity to send their secret code, which Louise immediately recognized.

She also managed to share her location without Ferhat noticing.

"Nakakuha ako ng pagkakataon na mag-send naman sa kapatid ko with the code words which is na-understand ng kapatid ko," Denise said.

["I got a chance to send a message to my sibling using code words, which my sibling understood."]

She did not expect that her sister and the authorities would find her on the same day.

"I didn't expect na the same day silang dumating ng Siargao, same day din nila ko nahanap, dahil sa location din," she said.

["I didn't expect that on the same day they arrived in Siargao, they would also find me that very same day, because of the location too."]

Denise recalled feeling hopeless while being held inside the villa. She said she only fully realized that she had been rescued when Louise hugged her.

"Sobrang hopeless ko that time, and then 'yung mismong panahon nag-start ng rescue 'yung mga kapatid ko, tapos hi-nug ako ng kapatid ko, nakita ko na parang doon ako bumalik sa senses ko na na-rescue na ako," she said.

["I felt so hopeless at that time, and then the exact moment my siblings started the rescue, and my sibling hugged me, I realized that was when I came back to my senses and knew I had been rescued."]

Denise seeks justice, encourages abuse survivors to seek help

Denise was assisted in consulting a specialist to help her process what she had experienced, as well as a psychologist and a representative from an anti-violence against women and children organization on how survivors can seek help and how their families can support them.

She said she was determined to pursue justice.

"I will use my voice, kahit ano man 'yan, para makuha 'yung hustisya na nangyari sa akin," Denise said.

["I will use my voice, whatever it takes, to get justice for what happened to me."]

She also shared a message for women who have experienced abuse and domestic violence.

"It's okay to feel shame. It's okay to feel scared. Pero kung magkaka-chance man kayo na, to ask ng help, please do it before it's too late," Denise said.

["It's okay to feel shame. It's okay to feel scared. But if you ever get the chance to ask for help, please do it before it's too late."]

Louise, for her part, said the experience showed how important their bond as twins remained, even without having to talk about their feelings all the time.

"We just felt na ano lang, na andiyan kami. Kasi iba 'yung language namin eh. Hindi kami nag-uusap, ganu'n. Hindi nagdi-deep talk. Pero alam namin na mahal namin ang isa't isa," she said.

["We just felt like, you know, we were just there for each other. Because our love language is different. We don't really talk like that—we don't have deep talks. But we know we love each other."]

For victims of abuse you may seek help at:

PNP: ALING PULIS TEXT HOTLINE: 0919 777 7377 / 0966 725 5961 / 0920 907 1717
NBI: (02) 8525-6028