Anti-crime group hits PNP for ‘toknap’ inaction

MANILA, Philippines - The Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) continued to hit the inaction of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on at least 15 “tokhang for ransom” or extortion cases where the victims, mostly Chinese nationals residing in Manila, were threatened with drug charges unless they pay up.

The MRPO said the cases that occurred in the last 11 months in Metro Manila and Bulacan allegedly involved PNP officers and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).        

The organization expressed belief there may be more unreported cases of those being kidnapped and planted with drugs by rogue policemen, who demand millions of pesos in exchange for their release.

The latest case reported to the MRPO was the kidnapping of two Chinese aged 28 and 21 at a condominium complex in Parañaque on Jan. 15.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded at least P70 million from the victims’ families. The victims were released after they paid P7.7 million, according to the group.

A 24-year-old son of a Philippine Stock Exchange officer was reported kidnapped on Jan. 5. The MRPO did not give details on the fate of the victim.

Last December, a fruit dealer from Sto. Cristo in Binondo, Manila was kidnapped by unidentified men and was released after paying P5 million.

One detailed case reported by the MRPO involved 46-year-old Zhao Xin Min, who arrived in the country on Nov. 6 last year. The following day, eight policemen broke into his hotel room in Sta. Cruz, Manila and demanded P3 million.

The victim’s uncle delivered P1 million to the policemen in a comfort room at a mall in Binondo.

Despite the pay-off, Zhao was hauled in for inquest on Nov. 9 on drug charges.

The policemen who charged him were seen in CCTV footage withdrawing money from his ATM account at a bank in Binondo. They also took his vehicle from the hotel.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde, in a meeting with Zhao, his lawyers and representatives of the Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry last year, promised to conduct an investigation into the rogue cops, the MRPO said.

The MRPO said the victims refused to cooperate with the PNP as many of the kidnappers come from their ranks.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and safety, prodded the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group to speed up their investigation into the cases.