Razon to meet with Chinese community to boost anti-KFR drive

Even before he assumes office to the top post of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. has already set up agenda, including meeting with the Filipino-Chinese community in an effort to help sustain the anti-kidnapping for ransom campaign and maintain its statistics low.

Razon, who was appointed by President Arroyo to replace PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon, who will retire on Oct. 1 at the age of 56, will also head the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER). Calderon heads the PACER on concurrent capacity. PACER is the police unit tasked to go after kidnap for ransom activities.

Razon said he has scheduled a meeting with Filipino-Chinese organizations, including the Citizens Action Against Crime (CAAC) and the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO).

“I will be meeting with the Chinese community to be able to properly address their concerns on kidnapping for ransom,” Razon said.

Under Calderon, PACER recorded an all-time low of 27 kidnapping cases recorded during a one-year period from July 2006 to June 2007. The 27 cases of kidnap-for-ransom marked a 45 percent drop from the 49 such offenses reported during the July 2005-June 2006 period.

In his report to Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Calderon, said 14 were reported to have taken place in Metro Manila, eight in the rest of Luzon, none in the Visayas and five in Mindanao.

Calderon said the decrease of KFR cases is attributable to the untiring cooperation of the community and the significant accomplishments achieved by manhunt operations, the intensified conduct of seminars in the barangays and with potential targets.

“With its accomplishment, Puno said PACER reminds us that there is a unit within the PNP that would go after kidnap-for-ransom gangs that are destroying the fabric of our society.”