Kidnapping cases up in 2009 - risk consultancy

MANILA, Philippines – Cases of kidnapping for ransom in the country rose last year, according to a risk consultancy firm, which attributed the rise to the global economic crisis.

The Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA) said in an 11-page report that there were 138 kidnapping incidents last year compared to the 135 cases reported in 2008.

PSA said the 2009 figure was the highest since 1995.

“The 2009 case total surpassed the 135 cases recorded in 2008 and is the highest since PSA began monitoring kidnapping trends in the Philippines in 1995,” PSA said.

“A struggling economy and high unemployment rate due to the global financial crisis contributed to the surge in kidnapping in the Philippines,” it added.

PSA, which has offices in Manila, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, Milwaukee and Sydney, said the 138 cases it recorded involved 143 individuals.

The bulk or 79 of these incidents were kidnap for ransom cases (KFR) while others are related to insurgency or terrorism.

“KFR activities continue to be an attractive criminal money-making scheme, in large part because a majority of the victims still opt to concede to ransom demands,” PSA said.

“Given the rampant unemployment and endemic poverty, the promise of fast cash is extremely appealing to uneducated youths recruited to participate in organized syndicates.”

PSA said the ransom paid generally ranged from P500, 000 to P2 million.

It noted that officially, the kidnapping of Filipino-Chinese Lourdes Tan-Kian and Bernardo Isidro in Cotabato City involved the largest ransom at P2 million.

“PSA sources contend, however, that the highest ransom paid in 2009 was actually the P40 million paid in exchange for the release of kidnapped Swiss national Andreas Notter,” the report read.

Notter was among the Red Cross workers abducted by the Abu Sayyaf last year. The kidnappers released the hostage months later.

PSA said by geographic area, 60 percent or 82 of the kidnapping incidents occurred in Mindanao. Luzon came in next with 29 while Metro Manila had 24 cases. Only three cases were recorded in the Visayas.

“Kidnapping in Mindanao is typically linked to terrorist groups and occurs most often in the southwestern part of the island, particularly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Zamboanga peninsula,” the risk consultancy firm said.

PSA said terrorist strongholds in Sulu and nearby places like Zamboanga City recorded 57 of the 82 kidnapping incidents in Mindanao last year. It noted that the police and the media are quick to blame the Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for these kidnappings even before an investigation is made.

“This (blaming) helps divert attention away from the reality that Mindanao suffers from instability and a lack of rule of law,” PSA said.

The report said criminal syndicates were involved in most of the kidnapping incidents in Luzon.

“Many people lost their jobs, which analysts say provoked people to engage in illegal activities, such as kidnapping,” PSA said.

The study said domestic helpers could connive with the abductors especially those holding a grudge against their employers. There are also cases where the unassuming helpers provide sensitive information to criminals such as their employers’ routines.

PSA said at least 116 kidnapping incidents last year involved Filipino victims. The bulk of these victims are engaged in small to medium-sized enterprises.

“Most Filipino-Chinese kidnap victims rarely report the incidents to authorities choosing instead to concede to ransom demands. Children, women, and the elderly are often targets of kidnap groups due to their vulnerability,” PSA said.

The report said among foreigners, Indian nationals remain the most targeted of KFR syndicates.

“Indian money-lenders become easy targets of KFR groups and other criminal syndicates due to the predictability of their travel routes when they conduct business and the fact that they carry large amounts of cash,” PSA said.

“Interestingly, however, many KFR incidents involving Indian nationals are actually perpetrated by other Indians who either hold a grudge against the victim’s family or have knowledge of the victim’s businesses and finances.”

The report said of the 143 victims last year, 46 are still in captivity, 38 were released, 31 were rescued, 13 were killed, 10 figured in failed kidnappings, and five escaped.