Kidnapping-Related Incidents – May 2023
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All of the kidnapping incidents recorded in May 2023 were personal dispute-related. There was no ransom money demanded by Kidnap-For-Ransom (KFR) suspects in May.
There were seven kidnap victims reported in May. One of them was a foreign victim of Chinese nationality. PSA recorded no kidnapping incidents targeting Western nationals this month. Based on the recorded incidents, one abduction occurred within Metro Manila, while the other incidents took place in the provinces of Isabela and Cebu.
None of the kidnapping incidents resulted in the demise of victims. Based on PSA data, one abduction involved a foreign victim, specifically a Chinese woman. While the incident is not explicitly related to POGO or gambling, a large number of kidnapping incidents in Metro Manila involving Chinese nationals in recent years were linked to such reasons. 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. The operations were both in response to personal dispute-related abductions. The victims were held by their captors for one to three days prior to their rescue.
