Upsurge in kidnapping cases in Metro?

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities are now investigating three cases of alleged kidnapping recorded in Quezon City, Makati and Las Piñas in a span of one week.

The STAR learned that an old woman and her daughter were seized in front of a popular coffee shop in Banawe, Quezon City last Tuesday.

A reliable source said the incident was immediately reported to the Mayon police precinct, including the plate number of the getaway vehicle, supposedly for proper action.

“Ang sagot ng pulis (sa presinto) after 24 hours (pa) bago nila maaksyunan,” the source noted. (The policemen in the precinct claimed they could not take immediate action unless 24 hours had elapsed.”

Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, chief of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the woman and her daughter have not been identified as of press time yesterday.

The source, however, confirmed the kidnapping incident in Makati. The victim paid the kidnappers P6.1 million, the source added.

“Officials of AKG met with representatives from the US embassy at 3 p.m. yesterday” the source told The STAR.

With regards to the kidnapping incident in Las Piñas, Nerez said they are trying to coordinate with the relatives of the alleged victim.

Nerez maintained there is no upsurge in the incidence of kidnapping in Metro Manila, saying the cases this year dropped compared to the same period last year.

“There is no rise in kidnapping incidents since AKG recorded only two authentic kidnapping-for-ransom cases in Luzon since January,” Nerez said.