PACER notes lull in kidnapping cases

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has noted a lull in kidnap-for-ransom cases, contrary to predictions that there would be a surge in kidnapping cases during the holiday season.

“Contrary to what we have predicted, there has been no new kidnapping case since October. It seems that they (KFR groups) have realized that we are on to them,” Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, head of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER), told The STAR yesterday.

“Maybe they (kidnap-for-ransom groups) are lying low because of our intensified neutralization operations,” he said.

Nerez earlier said kidnapping incidents peak during the months of September, October, November and December.

But surprisingly, he said there were no new cases reported since last month.

Still, Nerez said they are not letting their guard down.

The PACER is the main strike arm of the PNP against kidnap-for-ransom groups.

Last Oct. 9, PACER agents rescued a Taiwanese businesswoman from her kidnappers inside a subdivision in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Six suspected kidnappers were killed in two separate shootouts with lawmen in Manila and Valenzuela City after the victim’s rescue.