‘Kidnapping at an all-time low’

Chalk up points for the good guys.

Kidnapping reached an all-time low in 11 years over the last two months, the chief of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) said yesterday.

NAKTF chief Angelo Reyes told a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City that the Chinese community is happy over the development – and they are especially happy over the fact that kidnapping activities have practically dropped to zero incidence.

Reyes said this report came from Teresita Ang-See, who heads the anti-kidnapping watchdog Ctizens’ Action Against Crime (CAAC).

"We are encouraged by the (drop in) incidents of kidnapping," Reyes said. The statistics shown by the Filipino-Chinese community, he said, show "the lowest (incidence of kidnapping) in the past 11 years... What (Ang-See) said was that in so many years that she’s been monitoring kidnapping in the country, we are at an all-time low."

The last kidnapping recorded by the NAKTF happened on March 18, when a Filipino-Chinese was abducted.

"Since that time, the only kidnapping has been this one and some very, very minor ones that would not even classify as real kidnap-for-ransom (cases)," Reyes, who also once headed the Armed Forces and the defense department, said.

He also said there is no reason to lower the government’s guard against kidnapping, saying the police and the military will continue deploying roving patrol personnel and implementing checkpoints in various areas in Metro Manila and key areas in the provinces.

Reyes added that the NAKTF is ready for the opening of classes this month. NAKTF agents will accompany their police counterparts in patrolling the premises of elementary and secondary schools, particularly Chinese schools, in Metro Manila to deter kidnappers.

The NAKTF and the police are deployed to secure the busy University Belt in Sampaloc, Manila, as well as various schools in Tondo and Chinatown in the capital city to ensure the safety of millions of students returning to school on June 7 and 14.

"We have to intensify coordination with all law enforcement agencies, school authorities and community leaders," he said.

"We know that school children are most vulnerable when they go to school early in the morning and when they go back (home) from school in mid-afternoon," Reyes said. "In between, the law enforcers are monitoring banks and other business establishments."