PNP AKG director Brig. Gen. Cosme Abrenica (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday belied allegations of underreporting of kidnapping cases in the country, saying it has only logged 20 cases since January this year.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City, PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) director Brig. Gen. Cosme Abrenica said 15 of these cases have been solved while the rest are still under investigation.
Most of the victims in these cases are Chinese nationals, Abrenica added.
“We are paying close attention to these cases and we are ensuring a smooth flow of investigation. It could be that there are some cases that are really not reported to us so we are not able to address it. This is why we encourage those who have information to coordinate with us,” he said.
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said there are some instances where information on kidnapping cases cannot be publicized due to the request of the victims' families.
This came in response to former Press secretary Rigoberto Tiglao's column titled "Chinese businessmen spooked by kidnappings", where he said the Filipino-Chinese community in the country is alarmed over a "rising fear of kidnappings of Chinese citizens in the metropolis".
Tiglao said "sources from the Filipino-Chinese community" claimed that kidnapping cases are "grossly underreported as relatives of Chinese kidnapped are no longer reporting such incidents, whether the victims were killed or were released" on fears that ranking police officials are in cahoots with kidnapping groups. (PNA)
