PNP, MRPO kidnapping records in conflict

A total of 11 kidnappings took place this month, the latest of which was last Friday, the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) said yesterday.

But the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER), the unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) tasked to address kidnapping cases, said only two incidents were recorded so far this July — one in Pampanga and another in Metro Manila.

"We will be coordinating with them to verify the statistics. We usually have discrepancies in the number but not as big as 11 against two," said PACER’s Senior Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas.

On the other hand, MRPO president Teresita Ang-See said of the 11 incidents, only five were reported to police authorities while the victims in the remaining six incidents and their families opted to keep quiet. — Cecille Suerte Felipe