YEAR 2023 saw the Philippine National Police (PNP) recording less kidnapping-for-ransom cases compared to the past years, according to PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda.

A report from the PNP Directorate for Operations said that from January to November 2023, a total of 24 KFR incidents were reported with 62 targets arrested.

A total of 14 cases were also solved by the PNP while two others were declared as ‘cleared.’

Premised on the PNP’s Unit Crime Periodic Report, a case is considered ‘cleared’ when at least one of the offenders has been identified; there is sufficient evidence to charge him; and, he has been charged before the prosecutor’s office or any other court of appropriate jurisdiction.

In 2022, the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) recorded 41 kidnapping cases compared to the 38 it investigated in 2021 and the 85 incidents in 2019.

In 2022, out of the 41 KFR cases recorded, 18 were described as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO)-related while 22 were categorized as KFR. Another was said to be a casino-related kidnapping.

During the same year, 12 suspects composed of four Chinese, three Malaysians and a South Korean and four Filipinos were investigated for their involvement in KFR incidents.

PNP-AKG director Brigadier Gen. Cosme Abrenica said the case of four of the six Chinese nationals who were killed after being abducted in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City last October 30 has baffled them.

The official described the case as ‘very challenging’ since the kidnappers did not communicate with the families of the victims who were believed to have been suffocated to death during their captivity.

The PNP-AKG director said there were no signs of external injuries or any indication that the four were either shot or stabbed to death.

“From our investigation, they were likely killed by covering their faces or they were choked,” he said.

The victims were snatched inside Ayala Alabang subdivision around 4:00 a.m. last October 30 by heavily-armed men.

The three Filipinos–a couple who served as a stay-in house helper and driver and their son—were freed unharmed by the gunmen in Calauan, Laguna around 3:30 p.m. of the same day after being instructed not to report to the authorities.

Last All Saints’ Day, the bloated bodies of two Chinese-looking women were found along the Marilaque Highway in Sitio Maysawa in Brgy. Cuyambay in Tanay, Rizal.

Five days later, the bodies of two male Chinese who were described as brothers were recovered in Sitio Tigkay in Bgy. Magsaysay in Infanta, Quezon.

The four were identified by the three freed Filipinos as among the six Chinese nationals abducted through the clothes they were wearing at the time of the kidnapping.

Last November 22, a DNA examination showed that the DNA samples taken from the two murdered victims in Infanta, Quezon matched with the sample of their mother.

The PNP-AKG is also still searching for the two other missing victims—a woman and her 11-year old son–, said its spokesperson, Major Roman Salazar.

“Of course, we could not dictate anything to the abductors, but I am appealing to them: do not harm the remaining victims, especially the innocent child. We are hoping that we will be able to recover the mother and son alive,” Brig. Gen. Abrenica said.

The official admitted it was an ‘unusual case’ since the kidnappers have not demanded ransom for the safe release of their hostages.

“This is a puzzle for us on what the kidnappers really want. They have not called the family. There was no demand for ransom,” the PNP-AKG director said.

Brig. Gen. Abrenica said they are also looking into many angles behind the October 30 kidnapping incident. They include a business angle.

Journal Group sources said that part of the ongoing investigation is the possibility that it could be a POGO-related or casino-related kidnapping case.

Many past POGO-related kidnapping-for-ransom cases involved Chinese nationals who have been seized by their armed compatriots and tortured in front of cameras to force the victims’ relatives abroad to pay huge ransom.

A number of Chinese nationals have been arrested by PNP-AKG and other PNP units and law enforcement agencies for involvement in the same modus operandi.

Gen. Acorda earlier said they are undertaking more proactive measures to put a stop to kidnapping-for-ransom cases in the country as he cited many accomplishments by the PNP-AKG which went unreported due to request of the victims’ families.

Brig. Gen. Abrenica also belied reports of ‘underreporting’ of kidnapping cases in the country saying they have only recorded 20 incidents since January this year.

The official said that out of the 20 cases, 15 have been solved while the rest are still under investigation. Most of the victims in these cases are Chinese nationals, he explained.

Some are from South Korean and Taiwan, he added.

The two officials issued the statement when asked by the Journal Group to comment on a newspaper column by former Press Secretary Rigoberto Tiglao entitled’ Chinese businessmen spooked by kidnappings.’

In the latter part of 2022, the PNP leadership also dismissed reports of rising crimes as it defended the organization from claims by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. regarding a new spate of kidnapping incidents in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

The PNP last year said that it investigated 27 kidnapping cases compared to the 38 it probed in 2021.

The victims in last year’s kidnappings were Chinese, Vietnamese and Taiwanese nationals whose abductions were tied to their connection with POGO companies in the country.