Kidnapping-Related Incidents – April 2024
Clients who are fully subscribed to PSA’s Business Intelligence service automatically receive access to this report as a part of their subscription package. Non-subscribers may purchase the report as a standalone product at the following rates:
- USD 250 for digital access only
- USD 300 for digital access and one hard copy
- USD 50 for each additional hard copy
 |
|
PSA Consultancy recorded nine (9) kidnapping-related incidents involving sixteen (16) victims in April 2024. Five incidents were personal dispute-related while two incidents were POGO-related. Two incidents during the period were perpetrated by Kidnap-For-Ransom (KFR) groups and involved or demanded ransom payments worth PHP 1.55 million (USD 27,011.48).
Of the 16 kidnap victims reported during the period, two were foreign victims of Chinese nationality. PSA recorded zero kidnapping incidents targeting Western nationals this month. Based on the recorded incidents, two kidnapping incidents occurred in Parañaque City, while the other incidents took place in Makati City and the provinces of Bulacan, Batangas, Davao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, and South Cotabato.
One kidnapping incident resulted in the demise of the victims. The abduction involved two teenage boys that occurred in Davao del Sur. Analysts note that the incident appeared to be personal dispute-related, although local police officers are considering gang-related violence as a possible motive.
Two incidents for April 2024 were POGO-related. One of these incidents involved a group of Chinese suspects who escaped an earlier raid against a POGO firm in the province of Tarlac. Analysts note that POGO-related abductions have consistently declined in recent years, although Chinese-on-Chinese kidnappings have persisted month-to-month since 2021.
PSA recorded five successful rescue operations this month. The operations were in response to three personal dispute-related incidents and two KFR incidents. The victims were held by their captors for one to three days prior to their rescue.
