Solons want to know the truth regarding kidnappings
SENATOR Imee Marcos, during the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hybrid hearing on kidnappings, abductions, disappearances, and the recent spate of crimes, said she was “baffled” by the conflicting data of police reports.
Marcos said the Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded a total of 149 crimes, which does not include minor offenses, and yet, in the overall report, the PNP indicates that index and non-index crimes have gone down.
Further, the senator noted reports indicating that 56 kidnappings involved Chinese nationals.
“Which of these are true, and why is it reported that while the crime rate has fallen, our citizens are very afraid,” Marcos said Thursday, September 15, 2022.
Sen. Ronald de la Rosa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order, challenged the PNP to state the truth about the country’s peace and order as he insisted that it is the duty of the PNP to protect innocent civilians.
Sen. Grace Poe challenged all concerned agencies to coordinate and cooperate in preventing and acting on incidents of abductions, especially those involving foreign nationals.
Poe raised concern over reports that some foreign tourists are tricked into visiting the country only to be abducted and sold to criminal syndicates.
“That’s why it is a big challenge to our police force as it requires coordination,” Poe said as he challenged the immigration authorities to thoroughly screen foreign nationals entering the country.
PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo, who attended the Senate hearing, confirmed that some of the “violent” videos of foreign nationals being abused were not taken in the Philippines and said incidents actually happened in other countries.
