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PNP-AKG scores big in 2021 campaign

January 12, 2022 Alfred P. Dalizon 609 views

PNPTHE Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) scored big in its mandate in 2021 when it effectively reduced incidents of kidnappings-for-ransom (KFR) and neutralized 400 wanted kidnappers and other felons as a result of its all-out anti-criminality campaign, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

Headed by Brigadier General Rudolph B. Dimas of PNP Academy Class 1992, the PNP-AKG last year recorded 23 kidnapping incidents, 12 POGO-related incidents of abduction and kidnapping-for-ransom and five hoax kidnapping cases.

Dimas said that of the total cases, they solved 20 and arrested 40 suspects. A total of 25 heavily-armed kidnappers were also killed in gunbattles with PNP-AKG agents during the period.

“The kidnapping situation continues to be under control as proven by the statistics.

Generally, we at the PNP-AKG performed well in accomplishing our mission and mandate in suppressing the kidnapping-for-ransom menace in the country last year,” said the veteran anti-kidnapping official.

Dimas said they are currently hot on the trail of at least 98 members of 11 identified KFR syndicates in Luzon and 483 others belonging to 13 KFR gangs operating in Mindanao.

Last year also saw the PNP-AKG succeeding in their legal offensive with the conviction of 16 arrested kidnappers for their involvement in three previous KFR cases. The accused were all sentenced to life imprisonment by the court.

The PNP-ACG also filed two cases for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and one case for direct assault upon a person in authority and attempted homicide against several suspects arrested last year.

Dimas said their all-out manhunt operations as ordered by PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos also led in the arrest of 375 persons wanted for kidnapping-for-ransom, kidnapping with serious illegal detention and other non-bailable offenses like murder.

In support to the PNP’s campaign against illegal weapons , the PNP-AKG last year also accounted for 74 assorted loose firearms, 581 various live ammunition and seven explosives.

This year, the PNP-AKG is also pressing its drive to effort to identify, arrest and prosecute foreigners involved in kidnapping-for-ransom cases in the country. Gen. Carlos has also committed the full resources of the force in arresting KFR and serious illegal detention and other criminal activities involving foreign nationals in the country.

The PNP chief also gave the same assurance to the Chinese Embassy and its citizens.

“We assure the Chinese Embassy officials that the PNP is continuously monitoring and stepping up its operation to protect their citizens in the country as manifested by the series of successful operations against KFR groups since 2017,” the top cop said.

Carlos said that regardless of the nationality of both the victims and the perpetrators, an attack committed in the Philippines is an attack on our sovereignty. He said added this is the reason why they continue to conduct regular security assessment and adjustments to maintain peace and order.

Late last year, the PNP-AKG filed kidnapping-for-ransom and serious illegal detention charges against 13 suspects in the abduction of two Chinese and a Vietnamese national in Metro Manila.

Dimas said nine of the suspects, four of them identified as Chinese nationals Shi Qi alias ‘Boss’ and Zhi Ming and their Filipino accomplice, one Rea Dometita were charged with kidnapping-ransom and serious illegal detention before the DOJ in connection with the abduction of Wenlong Zhang.

KFR victim Xie Jiannan, a male Chinese, with the help of an interpreter signed his affidavit before Prosecutor Humarang charging Fei Duan, 37, a male from Shanxi, China and Jin Jin,33, a female also from the same China province with kidnapping-for-ransom and serious illegal detention.

The official said members of the AKG Luzon Field Unit led by Colonel Frederick E. Obar conducted an operation which led in the safe recovery of Jiannan and another Chinese national identified as Zeng Jian Bin,33, inside no. 74 Matthew Street in Multinational Villagein Parañaque City around 11 p.m. of the same day.

Carlos earlier assured the China Embassy of all-out efforts by the PNP-AKG and their other units in arresting cases of Chinese nationals, mostly POGO workers being kidnapped by their rogue compatriots in Metro Manila.

Agents of the PNP-AKG, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group under Major Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)headed by Maj. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. have also arrested a number of Chinese nationals who have abducted POGO workers in Metro Manila and tortured them in their safehouses inside and outside the metropolis while demanding huge ransom from their families abroad.

At present, cases of some Chinese nationals being arrested for their involvement in casino and POGO-related kidnappings are being hampered by the inability of Philippine authorities to track down the kidnappers known for torturing their preys and forcing them to produce ransom paid thru a China-based mobile payment app called WeChat.

Dozens of Chinese nationals found to have been involved in kidnapping-for-ransom activities in the country were found to have asked their victims to pay ransom money thru WeChat, a Chinese multi-purpose messaging, social media and mobile payment app first released in 2011 and is now considered as the world’s largest standalone mobile app with over one billion active users.

Police investigators however have no ability to establish the money trail left thru WeChat and will need the help of their Chinese counterparts to literally unlock the code.

In many cases, the victims were enticed to borrow money from casino loan shark rings being operated by Chinese syndicates. After losing their borrowed money in the casino tables, the victims are seized and kept in hotel rooms or safehouses where they were forced to seek ransom money from their families from China and other parts of Asia.

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