EDITORIAL - A resurgent problem

While cops were preoccupied with dealing with destabilization, criminals took advantage. That’s the explanation of the Philippine National Police in reporting that kidnapping cases went up by 70 percent in the first four months of the year, with 17 cases recorded, compared to the same period in 2005.

Let’s hope the PNP was not blaming destabilization but merely pointing out a possible connection in explaining the rise in kidnappings for ransom. Kidnapping has been a scourge in this country for nearly two decades. Records will bear out the fact that kidnapping incidents go down when authorities focus their attention on the problem, then surge anew as soon as the cops’ backs are turned.

The problem has not been as bad as in the early 1990s, when members of the Chinese-Filipino community marched in the streets during funerals for kidnap victims to demand more action from the government. A special presidential commission tasked to go after criminals focused on the problem and succeeded in containing kidnapping.

The problem returned when the country became embroiled in the scandals that led to the ouster of Joseph Estrada from the presidency, and persisted on a lesser scale throughout the turbulent years of the Arroyo presidency. About two years ago the Chinese-Filipino community once again expressed concern about the resurgence of the problem. Another task force led by Angelo Reyes was formed specifically to deal with kidnappings. The task force did such an impressive job that during a certain period, anti-crime groups reported zero cases of kidnappings.

As in the past, however, the problem has once again returned, as the PNP itself has reported. The latest figures should remind law enforcers that dealing with kidnapping requires perpetual vigilance. Cops cannot say they have been distracted by other law enforcement problems including destabilization. As people like to say, when the cat is away, the mice will play. This is true for all types of crimes. Law enforcers know this, and there is no excuse for not being on their toes.