Rise in kidnapping cases not connected with election fever

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday said the rise in the number of kidnapping incidents was not connected to the forthcoming elections or holiday season.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said the PNP and the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) have come to this conclusion after a long and careful analysis of the situation.

“There is no connection with the elections, enrollment or Christmas,” said Espina, former PACER chief.

The PNP said of the total 18 kidnap incidents reported during the period January to September 2008, seven were solved.

Espina said the PNP kidnapping statistics in 2009 are a little higher than that of 2008, which have been the lowest.

But he noted that kidnapping incidents should be categorized and the perpetrators identified because suspects have different motives.

Aside from organized groups, there are also cases of house helpers who abduct their wards in exchange for minimal money.

“There were also cases of ‘kidnap me,’ when a supposed victim made up a story to demand money from his or her family and gamblers kidnap people who owe them money in casinos and only release them until they’ve paid their debts,” Espina said.

He said motives should be differentiated to get a better analysis of the situation.