‘Beef up PNP force vs kidnap groups’

MANILA, Philippines - An anti-crime group asked yesterday the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strengthen its Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) following the reported increase in kidnap-for-ransom cases during the election period.

Teresita Ang See, founding chair of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order, also called on candidates in the May 9 polls to hire private bodyguards as police officers are busy performing election duties.

“Police should conduct more patrols and not just concentrate on the campaign sorties of candidates and other poll-related duties,” See said.

She said all presidential aspirants, including tough-talking Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, have police escorts.

“We’re appealing to the candidates to hire their own bodyguards and not to deplete the ranks of the PNP,” See said. “Let them (police) do their work.”

See scored the PNP for its enforcement of the election gun ban, which prevents licensed gun owners from using their firearms to protect themselves against criminals.

The PNP-AKG has reportedly investigated 37 cases of kidnapping for ransom last year. See, for her part, said the MRPO recorded three kidnapping cases in December alone.

See, however, clarified that the rise in kidnapping cases had nothing to do with the fund raising campaign of politicians.

“This is not for campaign fund raising. Maliit ang makukuha considering the risks,” she said, noting the yields are minuscule.

“Chinoys na naman ang victims,” she added, lamenting that Chinese Filipinos were again being targeted.

Of the reported kidnapping cases last December, two happened in Tarlac and another in Quezon City, See said.