Kidnap cases from January to July 2022 POGO-related —PNP

Amid the recent spate of kidnapping and killing incidents, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday that from January up to July this year abduction cases were mostly related to POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator), but mostly these have since been resolved.

"From January to July 2022, we have recorded 25 incidents of kidnapping incidents, mostly were POGO-related," PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a public briefing.

"Kaya naman ito ay naresolba rin. Mahigit [sa 50 porsyento] ang resolved at na-clear sa kaso na ito, at 'yung remaining ay patuloy na iniimbestigahan ng Anti-Kidnapping Group kung ito ba ay lehitimong kidnapping case or tinatawag na POGO or casino-related cases na agad namang nareresolba ng PNP," she added.

(Kidnap cases have been resolved. More than 50% of the cases were resolved and cleared, and the remaining is continuously being investigated by the Anti-Kidnapping Group to see if these were legitimate kidnapping cases, or so-called POGO or casino-related.)

Fajardo had previously said there were different suspects in the recent kidnapping incidents, and that there have different motives for doing so.

Fajardo credited the citizens for raising their concerns and uploading the incidents on social media, saying that the posts helped the PNP to monitor the situation and take immediate action.

"Ito lamang ay nagpapatunay na 'yung ating mga kababayan ngayon ay aware na kung ano ang gagawin nila kapag sila ay naka-witness ng crimes. Ito ay ipinagpapasalamat nang malaki ng PNP dahil karamihan dito, lalong lalo na itong cases na naitala ay napakalaki ng papel ng community kung bakit natin natunton at nahuli ang mga suspek," she said.

(This proves that our citizens are aware of what they will do if they witness acts of crime. The PNP is very grateful because in most of these, especially the reported cases, the community played a huge role that led to the tracking down and capture of the suspects.)

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. —LBG, GMA News