PNP urged to be more effective in anti-kidnap drive

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary of Manuel Roxas II yesterday vowed to make the Philippine National Police (PNP) more effective in fighting kidnap-for-ransom groups and other organized criminal elements by tapping the assistance of citizens and through reorientation of police officers.

Speaking at the Anti-Kidnapping Action and Prevention Forum hosted by the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) at the Kaisa Heritage Center in Intramuros, Manila, Roxas said the fight against kidnappers and other criminals is a concern not only of the PNP but of every citizen.

Roxas said the police had been using modern technology like data analysis-based police deployment in their effort to curb kidnapping and it has been successful so far.

“Criminals use risk analysis in committing their crimes. The PNP will have to adapt to the situation and be more vigilant and prepared,” he said.

He said the deployment of police officers will be based not only on their effectiveness but also on necessity, and vowed that there will be a “one team-one target” policy in their pursuit of lawless elements.

Roxas added that all the records of a particular unit or police station would be attached to the personal records of the commanders concerned during his watch, which will reflect on his promotion.

“In this case, we are making the PNP accountable, progressive and modern,” he said.

Leaders of the Chinese-Filipino community have called on the police to immediately resolve the 19 kidnap-for-ransom cases recorded in Metro Manila from January to August this year.

MRPO founder Teresita Ang See said they are bothered by the increase in kidnapping cases in the past two months. She said that what is alarming is that the kidnappers have been operating successfully in Metro Manila.

“I call on the police to focus more attention on the anti-kidnapping campaign, especially the manhunt operations and buildup of cases against the suspects,” See said.

She said the MRPO also held the forum to urge people to calm down since kidnapping is bad enough, but some people have been spreading unverified information that cause confusion and alarm.

“There are irresponsible people that spread rumors through the social media and also by text that could endanger the lives of people,” she added. 

One rumor passed around the last few days by text said that a young girl from an exclusive school had been kidnapped and killed, but a check with the school authorities showed that all their students were accounted for.

Senate probe sought

Alarmed by what appears to be a rise in the incidents of crime being reported, Sen. JV Ejercito has called for an inquiry into the peace and order situation in the country.

Ejercito filed Senate Resolution 833 yesterday directing the appropriate committee to conduct the inquiry and also urging the PNP and other agencies involved in security to “improve and upgrade the security and increase police visibility in public areas, to expedite resolution of these cases and to enact, review or amend legislation in order to prevent or lessen the recurrence of the same crimes in the future.”

Citing data from the PNP, Ejercito noted that incidents of crime appear to be going up.

From a total of 1.2 million cases in 2013, the PNP has recorded almost 603,086 cases as of June this year.

Ejercito cited several incidents including the rape and murder of Anria Espiritu, the ambush of a barangay chairman in Manila and a police officer in Quezon City, the murder of businessman Benito Chao in Caloocan City and the gun-poking incident along EDSA as indications of a breakdown in peace and order in the country.

Sen. Francis Escudero also said that a lot of the incidents have taken place in broad daylight, an indication of the perpetrators’ contempt for law and order and a clear mockery of the members of the PNP.

“I have received feedback from friends who have witnessed kidnappings or relatives of victims who have been subjected to abduction and have paid ransom for their release. There’s a segment of the community who is already in panic and there must be concrete action to abate these crimes and prevent the spread of alarm among the public,” he added.

Escudero cited the recent kidnapping of Chao who was found dead hours after he was taken.

The kidnappers were reported to have asked for a P20-million ransom but a series of negotiations by the family brought it down to P15 million. – With Marvin Sy, Non Alquitran, Anson Yu