Kidnapping-Related Incidents – January 2025
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PSA Consultancy recorded nine (9) kidnapping-related incidents involving eleven (11) victims in January 2025. Kidnap-for-ransom incidents comprised 81 percent of the total incidents.
Of the eleven kidnap victims reported during the period, seven were foreign victims – six Chinese nationals and one Korean national. PSA recorded zero kidnapping incidents targeting a Western national this month. Four kidnapping incidents occurred in Metro Manila (Makati, Pasay, Quezon, and Taguig cities) while the others occurred in the Cavite, Pampanga, Pangasinan, and South Cotabato. One of the kidnapping incidents in January resulted in the demise of the victims.
PSA notes the higher proportion of kidnap-for-ransom incidents in January 2025 relative to preceding months. Higher crime incidence, especially financially motivated crimes, is typically recorded during the holiday season. Analysts believe it is too early to conclude that kidnap-for-ransom incidents are becoming more prevalent as the recent incidents do not appear to be in a consistent trend from past month, and this spike may simply be part of the usual short-term fluctuation in incidents.
