Kidnapping-Related Incidents – November 2023
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PSA Consultancy recorded ten (10) kidnapping-related incidents involving eighteen (18) victims in November 2023. The majority of these incidents were personal dispute-related. Four incidents were perpetrated by a Kidnap-for-Ransom (KFR) group and involved or demanded ransom payments worth PHP 7.26 million (USD 131,097.05).
Of the eighteen kidnap victims reported during the period, thirteen were foreign victims, all Chinese nationals. PSA recorded zero kidnapping incidents targeting Western nationals this month. Based on the recorded incidents, five abductions occurred within Metro Manila, while the other incidents took place in the provinces of Zambales, Pampanga, Quezon, Batangas, and Cebu.
Two kidnapping incidents resulted in the demise of the victims. The first incident involved a couple abducted in Quezon and was believed to be related to the illegal drug trade, while the second incident is believed to be POGO-related. Two kidnapping incidents this month explicitly involved Chinese POGO workers. Authorities believe that these were perpetrated by KFR syndicates deliberately targeting POGO workers in the country. Meanwhile, four abductions involved suspects of Chinese nationality targeting fellow Chinese nationals. PSA notes that while Chinese-on-Chinese kidnapping incidents have persisted month to month since 2021, most of these continue to be very specific and targeted abductions that more or less may have something to do with gambling-related debt or other financial motivations.
PSA recorded four successful kidnapping rescue operations this month. The operations were in response to two personal dispute-related incidents and two KFR incidents. The victims were held by their captors for less than a day to six days prior to their rescue
