PNP probes new wave of kidnappings of foreigners

Alarmed by the resurgence of kidnapping incidents in the country, Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza mobilized yesterday the PNP Intelligence Group (IG) to go all out against the kidnap groups, notably those involving foreigners.

This developed as opposition Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta batted for a top-to-bottom revamp of the PNP to address the worsening peace and order condition in the country.

"We want to know why there are foreigners who are very brave enough in doing illegal activities in the country, especially in the case of Chinese nationals kidnapping ethnic Filipino-Chinese here," Mendoza said.

He directed intelligence director Chief Superintendent Robert Delfin to make recommendations on how to check the entry into the country of foreign criminals who appeared to have little or no respect for Philippine authorities.

Mendoza issued the directive following the arrest on Friday of seven Chinese nationals suspected of having abducted Jacqui Rowena Tiu in San Fernando, La Union last Sept. 27.

The suspects were arrested during a raid on their room at the Westin Philippine Plaza hotel. Police also recovered the P10-million ransom paid by the girl’s relatives.

National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force head Deputy Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. identified the suspects as Jason Lim, 28; Jacky Sy alias Shi Jian Hui, 22; Aaron Chang Tin, 35; Tony Co alias Xu You Kuang, 21; Zhang Xi Wang, 20; Zhang Du, 35; and Ocampo Jacky Sy, 23.

Mendoza said the reluctance of relatives of some of the victims to report to the police or cooperate with investigators has made ethnic Filipino-Chinese the favorite targets of kidnap-for-ransom syndicates.

Mendoza pointed out that apart from their ability to meet the ransom demands, these people would generally prefer to keep silent about the case.

Meanwhile, records at the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management showed that kidnap-for-ransom cases numbered 94 in the eight months to August this year, representing an 11.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year when there were 84 cases.

Sixty of the 94 cases involved ransom demands, while the rest were classified only as illegal detention.

The 94 kidnapping incidents also involved 107 victims, 42 of whom were safely released, 34 rescued, nine killed by their abductors and three escaped. The fate of the remaining 19 remained unknown.

The PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation claimed they were able to solve 51 of these cases, for a 54.2 percent efficiency.

The records also showed that out of the 164 suspects arrested, 73 were members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Thirteen suspected kidnappers were reportedly killed in various police operations.

Col. Carlos Holganza, executive director of the National Anti-Crime Commission, stressed that the authorities should carry out a more aggressive campaign against kidnapping, with the full cooperation of the private sector.

In seeking an overhaul of the PNP, Oreta cited Saturday’s daring robbery at SM City in Quezon City and the spate of kidnappings in the metropolis, including the abduction and slaying of Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Connie Yap Wong and her police-escort PO1 Dionisio Borca Jr., a member of the Western Police District. – With reports from Aurea Calica