No serial killer, 'white van' behind series of kidnappings, killings —PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday dismissed circulating information that a serial killer or a criminal group onboard a white van was behind the recent incidents of abductions and killings in the country.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said there are different suspects in the recent kidnapping incidents and that they have different motives for doing so.

"Kung titignan natin 'yung mga circumstances dito sa mga nangyaring sunod-sunod na pagkaka-discover ng cadaver pati na nga ‘yung pagdukot at later on nakitang patay, wala po tayong nakikita na serial killer dito dahil iba-iba kasi 'yung involved dito at iba-iba ang motibo,” she said.

"Pati na rin ang kumakalat sa social media na sinasabi na meron isang white van na nandurukot, wala pa po tayong nare-record na ganyang insidente," she added.

(If we look at the circumstances in the successive discoveries of cadavers, including the abductions in which victims are later found dead, we do not see a serial killer here because there are different people involved and the motives are different. We have also not yet recorded any incidents of an abducting white van like those spreading on social media.)

Among the reports that raised concerns and fears among the public was that of the 25-year-old man who was abducted in Taal, Batangas, last week and found dead in Sariaya, Quezon, the following day, according to Police Regional Office 4A.

CCTV footage showed that the victim alighted from a bus on Tuesday at 7:53 p.m. While standing on the side of the road, several armed suspects aboard a gray SUV and a gray sedan abducted him.

There was also the case of a 34-year-old man who was abducted by armed men in Batangas and has remained missing for over two weeks now.

The victim’s live-in girlfriend said they were on board a motorcycle to fetch someone in a nearby town when armed men suddenly blocked their way and abducted him.

With these, Fajardo said PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin has already tasked the field and regional directors to strengthen  security measures in their areas of jurisdiction, including barangays and malls.

She also called on the public to immediately report to the police any related incidents that they have encountered so they could be investigated immediately.

"Asahan niyo po na hindi ito ipagwa-walang bahala ng PNP at gusto naming ma-preempt at ma-prevent itong mga ganitong insidente… Asahan niyo po na pipilitin at gagawin ang lahat ng PNP para ma-solve at madakip ang responsable dito sa mga ganitong insidente,” she said.

(Rest assured that the PNP will not ignore this as we want to preempt and prevent these incidents... Rest assured that the PNP will do everything to solve and arrest those responsible for these incidents.) —KBK, GMA News