Battle against kidnappers not over, Tsinoys say

The battle is not over.

Sources within the Chinese-Filipino community yesterday branded as "premature" last Tuesday’s declaration of President Arroyo that kidnapping has been "virtually eliminated" as well as the subsequent disbanding of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF).

While in favor of the proposal of Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes to expand the task force to include crimes other than kidnap for ransom, "kidnapping should still be the focus" in the face of a noticeable rise in kidnap cases in June and July.

The sources confirmed a "lull" in kidnap incidents in April and May, but pointed out that in June there were four confirmed incidents of kidnapping involving eight victims, and five cases in July involving eight victims.

Four other kidnapping cases outside of Metro Manila have not been confirmed, including that of a Taiwanese factory manager whose disappearance has led to the closure of the export factory.

The President made the announcements on Tuesday during the presentation to media of Alexander Aldas, the country’s fifth most wanted kidnapper who has been implicated in the abduction and murder of Coca-Cola Export Corp. finance manager Betti Chua Sy last November.

Aldas carried a P1-million bounty for his capture.

While hailing the arrest of Aldas, whom sources described as "one of the most notorious and ruthless," and other suspected kidnappers, sources within the community, including some kidnap victims and their families, insist that the "battle against kidnapping is not yet ended."

"There are still other (kidnapping) gangs out there," a source said, expressing apprehension that the President’s announcement may only embolden kidnappers, who may feel that with the attention of law enforcers focused elsewhere, they can again go about their criminal activities.

The NAKTF Board of Advisers is set to meet with Reyes on Saturday.