Tsinoys not amused by kidnap joke

MANILA, Philippines - The Tsinoys are not amused.

Teresita Ang-See of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) cried foul over the mention of kidnapping during the exchange between Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and businessman Antonio Tiu in a Senate hearing.

See stressed authorities should take the issue of kidnapping seriously.

“Take the problem on kidnapping seriously and don’t make it the butt of a joke. It’s not a laughing matter,” See said in a radio interview.

She said the discussion in the Senate is diverting the issue.

“Some people take it as a racist joke because of the common misconception that the victims are mostly the rich because they have the capacity to pay the ransom. That’s not true,” See said in Filipino.

See called on the Senate to come up with measures to address the problem on kidnapping.

She said the exchange between Cayetano and Tiu appeared to be belittling the problem on kidnapping.

“Don’t belittle the problem of kidnapping. We’re asking media not to make public the net worth of the victim. If there is a ransom demand, the people might see it in a perverse way that the victim could be super rich. We should take into consideration the victim’s fate if he could not pay the ransom.”

See said they were also saddened by the reports of P250-million ransom paid to free the German couple kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf.

“As if we are showing to the world that crime pays, and pays lucratively,” she said.

She also said kidnappers should not be called terrorists.

“They are not terrorists. They are hoodlums, criminals and their status should not be elevated to terrorist,” See said. – Cecille Suerte Felipe