Eight kidnap groups on the loose — PNP

From the Manila Standard Today (Nov 22): Eight kidnap groups on the loose — PNP

The Philippine National Police is hunting down eight notorious kidnapping groups believed to be behind the series of abduction in the country which are preying mostly on wealthy and prominent Chinese and Filipino businessmen.

Sr. Supt Rene Asperas, Chief of Staff of the PNP’s Anti-Kidnapping Group said a massive hunt has been launched against the syndicates, even as he reported that some 66 leaders of kidnap for ransom groups had already been arrested.

Asperas said there were 43 kidnapping cases from January to November this year, 24 of which were solved, with one kidnapping suspect killed.
Of the 43 cases, 21 occurred in Luzon, 22 in Mindanao, while not even a single incident of kidnapping was reported in the Visayas.

The 19 kidnapping cases in Luzon Asperas said, are still being investigated, while the 22 cases, most of which involved the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) are being looked into by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Three of the more prominent kidnap for ransom syndicate leaders whom the police arrested recently were identified as Tyron dela Cruz, who was caught in Alburquerque, Bohol shortly after he escaped from jail; Reccinte Padillo and Martin Lico.

Dela Cruz was charged for the 2013 kidnapping of a Filipino-Chinese couple in Laguna. Padillo, on the other hand, is the alleged mastermind in the 2013 kidnapping of businesswoman Sally Chua, who was rescued in Davao City, while Lico leads a kidnap syndicate and is also involved in robberies. Padillo and Dela Cruz’s arrest came after Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas  challenged the MRPO to step up their efforts to neutralize the kidnapping groups.

Teresita Ang See, president of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order lauded the recent arrests and gave the PNP a 2.5 grade for its efforts.

Ang See, however, asked the PNP not to be complacent despite its recent successes as most of the kidnap syndicates are just lying law and may come back with a vengeance.

“During the times that the syndicates laid low, the PNP should intensify their manhunt. Of course, the national government should also provide the funding for the manhunt,” she said.

Ang See called on the police and the public to be more vigilant as crimes are expected to rise during the Christmas season.

Meanwhile, Aspera also noted that kidnappers seem to be operating in smaller groups and are now involved in other crimes such as illegal drug trade and robbery.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/11/22/eight-kidnap-groups-on-the-loose-pnp/