70% of kidnappers neutralized - PNP

More than 70 percent of known kidnappers in the country have been "neutralized" between July last year and May this year, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

The PNP reported to Malacañang that 197 of 277 kidnappers have already been "neutralized" and that its anti-kidnapping efforts have registered a 64 percent efficiency rating.

In a report obtained by the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the PNP said that since July last year, when President Arroyo delivered her State of the Nation Address before Congress, nine suspected kidnappers have been killed and 154 others "neutralized."

They belonged to the Pajes Group, Decena/Ramos Group, and Santillan Group, including suspected Pentagon gang leader Faizal Marohomsar, alias Kumander Mubarak II, Joel Medrano of the Medrano Group, and Ronald Pine of the Pine Group.

Of the 127 kidnapping cases occurring from January last year to May this year, 99 took place last year and 28 this year, with the police solving 80 cases.

The PNP has adopted the following three-pronged approach to eliminate kidnappers:

• Prevention and education.

• Special operation (neutralization) and legal offensive.

• Rewards system.

Mrs. Arroyo is expected to announce a significant drop in the strength of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf when she delivers her State of the Nation Address before Congress next month.

As of April this year, the military has reported a 64 percent fall in the number of Abu Sayyaf bandits, from 1,117 in July last year to 398.

The figure does not include the gains of government troops as they advanced into Abu Sayyaf lairs in the jungles of Basilan over the past two months.