Task Force chief appeals to media

Philippine National Police Deputy Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, chief of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF), appealed to media not to be over-eager in reporting "live" kidnap for ransom incidents.

"No scoop is worth the life of a kidnap victim," Ebdane told media men at the Manila Overseas Press Club Press Forum at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel last Friday.

Ebdane said that by giving a "blow-by-blow" account of the "live" incident, the life of a victim is further threatened.

"There are some instances when the kidnappers read about their exploits in the newspapers and decide to kill the hostage," he said.

Meanwhile, Ebdane said kidnapping for ransom incidents have been low recently.

At the moment, his unit is in hot pursuit of members of the notorious Villaver kidnap group that operates in Metro Manila and the Southern Tagalog region.

According to Ebdane, the Villaver group, named after its arrested leader Rolando Villaver, 24, remains the most active kidnap for ransom group.

Villaver was arrested by police last Dec. 22 along with his cohorts Edgardo Decipolo, 33, and Eduardo Robledo, 24. Police said Villaver was wounded after his capture when he allegedly grabbed an assault rifle from a policeman during interrogation and opened fire, hitting one policeman in the arm. Other policemen then opened fire, hitting Villaver in the back.

Police said the Villaver group, composed mostly of security guards, was involved in the kidnapping of shipping businessman Victor Castañeda last Dec. 21. Castañeda was freed the other day in Alaminos, Pampanga after payment of a P10 million ransom.

Other alleged victims of the gang last year were Romeo Panganiban, Mary Grace Cheng Rosagas (daughter of Uratex owner Robert Cheng), Connie Wong (Robert Cheng’s sister, who was later found dead), Michele Dee Santos (granddaughter of Alfonso Yuchengco) and Michael Ng.

As these developed, Ebdane also warned the public not to be too trusting of household help referred by agencies. He said that in most cases, household help like cooks, maids and drivers, sent by agencies, are often lured to become tipsters of kidnap gangs.

According to the NAKTF, there were 146 kidnappings reported last year. Of the number, 99 were classified as kidnap for ransom incidents. But despite the figures, Ebdane reported a 60.6 percent crime solution efficiency last year as compared to the 48 percent solution efficiency posted in 2000. – Mike Frialde