Kidnapping-Related Incidents – December 2022
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Most of the kidnapping incidents recorded in December 2022 were personal dispute-related. Out of the total number of kidnapping incidents this month, four incidents were personal dispute-related while one incident was POGO-related. Based on the recorded incidents, only one abduction in December demanded ransom money worth around PHP 250,000 (USD 4,535).
There have been seven kidnap victims reported in December, two of them were foreign victims – one Chinese and one Vietnamese national. PSA has not recorded any kidnapping incidents targeting Western nationals this month. Based on the recorded incidents, three abductions occurred within Metro Manila, while the other incidents took place in the provinces of Cavite and Abra.
One abduction incident resulted in the demise of one victim. A 46-year-old Vietnamese businessman was initially reported missing and presumed abducted in the province. Analysts note that the suspects seemed to have other motivation than abducting the victim. The incident appeared to have been done to transfer the victim to another location for eventual execution. Meanwhile, one incident was POGO-related where the suspects abducted one woman and sold her to a POGO company. Analysts note that POGO/gambling-related abductions are a recurring and systemic issue. There were more POGO/gambling-related incidents in the previous years, but a few incidents are still being recorded each month since February 2021.
PSA recorded two successful kidnap rescue operations this month. Both operations were in response to personal dispute-related abductions targeting one Chinese and three Filipino nationals. The victims were rescued on the same day and one month after they were abducted.
