Reyes admits kidnappings in Metro on the rise

Anti-kidnapping czar Angelo Reyes has admitted kidnapping incidents have increased at an alarming rate, with more than 50 percent of the cases recorded in Metro Manila.

Reyes, who was recently appointed to head the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (Naktaf), issued the statement as he met the members of the task force executive committee yesterday.

"This executive order was prompted by the noticeable increase in the incidents of kidnapping in the past two or three months. Our mission is to address this concern which has scared many investors and tourists," Reyes said.

At the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame, Reyes met with PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) chief Commodore Tirso Danga and representatives of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), who will represent the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). These agencies are tasked to coordinate efforts to stamp out the kidnapping menace.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will provide a comprehensive and synchronized campaign program for Naktaf. which is under the Office of the President.

"The Naktaf’s principal mission is to ensure that there is an effective and comprehensive national campaign against kidnapping," Reyes said.

He said kidnapping was at its highest last month with at least 15 reported cases.

The country experienced a "sharp climb" in kidnapping incidents in May, August, and September with an average of 8.3 cases recorded every month.

Police recorded 82 cases as of October this year as compared to 63 kidnap-for-ransom cases during the same period last year.

"Kidnapping incidents have wreaked its havoc on our economy by creating an atmosphere of lawlessness which discourages businessmen and foreign investors from putting up businesses in the country," Reyes said.

The statistics cited by Reyes were a revelation after Ebdane and the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Task Force (Pacer) consistently downplayed reports of kidnapping incidents.

Pacer officials had imposed a news blackout so as not to compromise rescue operations.

Reyes was designated to head the Naktaf which would include Pacer in its operations. The creation of the task force virtually clipped the powers of Pacer.

After Ebdane assumed office last year, Pacer was created as the lead agency of the PNP in the anti-kidnapping campaign.

Last year, President Arroyo gave Ebdane a one-year deadline to eradicate or neutralize kidnap-for-ransom activities, a primary concern of business and anti-crime watch groups. The deadline ended July 22.

Citizen Action Against Crime (CAAC) president Teresita Ang-See confirmed the increase of kidnap incidents since January despite PNP pronouncements to the contrary.

But without admitting the rise of kidnap statistics, PNP officials had admitted kidnap syndicates seem to have gotten bolder as they strike at their prospective victim’s place of work rather than the usual way of blocking their vehicles on busy streets.

After the deadline ended, Mrs. Arroyo defended Ebdane and said the PNP chief had done his best to eradicate kidnap for ransom syndicates.

PNP chief for community relations Director Ricardo de Leon said the creation of the Naktaf and the designation of Reyes as anti-kidnapping czar are a boost to the government’s anti-kidnapping campaign. "We now have a better coordination," he said.

De Leon said that the formation of Naktaf is a recognition that kidnapping-for-ransom is a very complex issue that needs the attention of all law enforcement units.

"We can have one direction (with the formation of the Naktaf). This is the reason why we (PNP) welcome the move creating the task force," De Leon said.

Reyes added Naktaf has the same task of neutralizing kidnap for ransom gangs. "We are bent to dramatically reduce kidnapping if not totally eliminate it," he said.

He said the anti-kidnapping campaign will include weeding out scalawag policemen and military personnel.

The former defense secretary and ambassador-at-large for counter-terrorism will have the authority to use all the law enforcement agencies in the anti-kidnapping campaign.

Top security officials also said they will continue pushing for the reimposition of the death penalty.

"(Kidnapping) being a heinous crime, (the) death penalty must be imposed," Reyes said.

Zuño, for his part, said the present position of the government is to stand down on the reimposition of the death penalty. "That’s a presidential prerogative ordering the stay of execution (of the death convicts)," he said.

During yesterday’s meeting, all the members of the Naktaf executive committee agreed to establish close coordination with neighboring countries in the Southeast Asian region, noting the recent kidnapping incident of the six workers of a Sabah beach resort snatched by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits last Oct. 5.

Efforts to locate the kidnappers and their hostages resulted in the killing of five of the victims by their captors Monday night in Tawi-Tawi.

The lone survivor, Indonesian Nonoy Alkusil managed to escape while the other captives, including his parents, were shot by the bandits.

It was later learned that the bandits killed the victims, workers of the Borneo Paradise beach resort in Sabah after their families failed to pay the ransom of US$ 5 million.

"We have kidnappings that cross national borders so coordination, specifically with our neighbors like Malaysia and Indonesia will have to be effected," Reyes said. — With Mike Frialde