PNP: Solved kidnap cases up by 37% in 2018

MANILA, Philippines — The number of kidnapping cases in the country that were solved last year increased by at least 37 percent, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

Data from the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) showed that 33 kidnapping cases were solved in 2018, higher by 37.7 percent compared to 2017 wherein 24 cases were solved.

The AKG earlier reported that the number of kidnapping cases increased by three percent in 2018. Data showed that 69 Filipinos and foreigners were kidnapped last year, compared to 67 victims in 2017.

According to the AKG, suspects were arrested and charges have been filed in court in 24 of the 33 cases solved. For the remaining nine cases, the kidnappers have been identified but remain at large.

The AKG’s Luzon field office was the most productive, with 22 cases solved, followed by its Mindanao field office with two.

Included in the cases that were solved are the kidnappings of 17 Chinese, mostly by loan shark syndicates at casinos.

A police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the suspects, who are also Chinese, were caught during entrapment operations.

Meanwhile, the number of cases that are under investigation went down by 27.77 percent, from 18 cases in 2017 to 13 last year.

The AKG attributed the increase in its crime solution efficiency to the trust and  cooperation of the kidnap victims and their relatives.

Another factor is the cooperation of security officers from commercial establishments, such as gambling joints, with the police.