FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday set the record straight, claiming it has only logged 27 kidnapping cases so far in 2022.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo made this remark after Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCCII) president Lugene Ang declared that there had been 56 kidnapping incidents in the country in the last 10 days.
She then noted that the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) has since clarified the figure with representatives of the PCCCII.
“Total po is 27 na cases versus the 38 po noong 2021. Iyong 11 po riyan ay na-solve, apat po iyong na-clear – ibig sabihin po, naisampa po iyong kaso, although hindi nahuli iyong mga suspect – and the remaining 12 of the 27 cases remain under investigation,” Fajardo said in press briefing.
(There are 27 kidnapping cases this year versus the 38 incidents we recorded in 2021. Eleven of those have been solved. Four have been cleared, which means we filed cases but have yet to catch the suspect. And the remaining 12 remain under investigation.)
She also pointed out that the PCCCII could not back its claims with evidence when asked by the PNP-AKG.
“Wala silang maipakitang listahan noong 56 [cases],” Fajardo said. “That is the main reason why nakipag-ugnayan sila sa PNP-AKG para linawin nga po iyong na-receive nilang report na merong 56 kidnapping cases for the last 10 days.”
(They can’t show a list of the 56 cases they earlier claimed. That is why they coordinated with the PNP-AKG – to clarify the reports they received about 56 kidnapping cases in the last 10 days.)
She further detailed that among the 27 kidnapping cases, 20 are linked with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
“So iyong POGO-related nga po riyan, ang involved po ay 18 na Chinese national, isa po ang Taiwanese at ang isa po ay Vietnamese,” Fajardo added.
(Of the POGO-related cases, 18 involve Chinese nationals. One involves a Taiwanese, while the other involves a Vietnamese.)
In recent weeks, there have been calls for the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the alarming string of disappearances, especially among women and youths.
RELATED STORIES:
PNP sounds alarm on crimes vs students
Gabriela asks House to probe cases of missing women
Imee Marcos calls on PNP, DILG to probe disappearances