PNP records 43 kidnap cases since January

A total of 43 kidnapping cases have been recorded in the country from January to November this year, according to records from Philippine National Police's anti-kidnapping unit, with most cases already solved.

In a press conference Friday, Supt. Rene Aspera, head of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG), said 24 of the 43 cases have already been solved while the rest were still under investigation.

“Sa ngayon po sa trend wala pong pinipili 'yung kidnappers ngayon,” Aspera said. “'Yung iba nga diyan hindi 'yan organized [groups].”

He said some of the groups behind the kidnapping cases were previously involved in other illegal activities. “'Yung iba involved dati sa illegal drugs, other crimes. So ngayon yan siguro ang naisip nila, magsi-shift sila ng opration nila.”

Of the 43 kidnapping cases, which included hoax and 'kidnap me' schemes, 21 were in Luzon and 22 were in Mindanao. No kidnapping case was recorded in the Visayas in that period.

Aspera said that around 90 percent of the 22 kidnapping cases in Mindanao are linked to the Abu Sayyaf bandit group.

Aspera also reported that manhunt operations had resulted in the arrest of 30 suspects, seven of whom were on the PNP-AKG's most wanted list. Other operations resulted in the arrest of 35 persons.

To avoid being a target of kidnapping, the public should practice preventive measures such as adding variety to daily activities so that kidnappers will have a hard time monitoring their movements, Aspera said.

He also said that if possible, homeowners should employ security guards. Local establishments have also been required to install CCTVs.

Authorities are currently pursuing at least eight kidnap-for-ransom groups, Aspera said. —KBK, GMA News