Kidnapping-Related Incidents – September 2022
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Majority of the kidnapping incidents recorded in September 2022 were personal dispute-related. Out of the total number of kidnapping incidents this month, six incidents were personal dispute-related, four incidents were POGO-related, and two incidents were perpetrated by Kidnap-for-Ransom (KFR) groups. Based on the recorded incidents, five abductions in September demanded ransom money with a total value of PHP 119.6 million (USD 2.1 million).
There have been 185 kidnap victims reported in September, 138 of them were foreign victims – two Malaysians, three Taiwanese, 16 Vietnamese, and 117 Chinese nationals. PSA recorded no kidnapping incidents targeting Western nationals this month. Based on the recorded incidents, six abductions occurred within Metro Manila, while the other incidents took place in the provinces of Batangas, Kalinga, Pampanga, and Rizal.
No kidnapping incidents resulted in the demise of victims. Based on PSA data, two abductions were perpetrated by KFR groups targeting one Taiwanese and one Chinese national. Meanwhile, four incidents were POGO-related, where the suspects abducted foreign nationals and forced them to work in online gaming companies. 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 six successful kidnap rescue operations this month. The operations were in response to one KFR, one personal dispute-related, and four POGO-related abductions targeting two Malaysians, two Taiwanese, 16 Vietnamese, 45 Filipinos, and 114 Chinese nationals. The victims were held by their captors for less than a day to three days prior to their rescue.
