Kidnapping-Related Incidents – September 2023
In September 2023, PSA Intelligence recorded five (5) kidnapping incidents.
PSA Consultancy recorded five kidnapping-related incidents involving six victims in September 2023. The majority of these incidents were personal dispute-related. One incident was perpetrated by a Kidnap-for Ransom (KFR) group, while two abductions during the month involved or demanded ransom payments worth PHP 1.4 million (USD 24,715.11).
Of the six kidnap victims reported during the period, two were foreign victims – one of Chinese nationality and one of Vietnamese nationality. PSA recorded zero kidnapping incidents targeting Western nationals this month. Based on the recorded incidents, two abductions occurred within Metro Manila, while the other incidents took place in the provinces of Laguna, Masbate, and Iloilo.
None of the kidnapping incidents resulted in the demise of the victims. Based on PSA data, one abduction involved suspects of Vietnamese and Chinese nationality targeting a fellow Vietnamese national. While it was not explicitly POGO/gambling-related, officials stated that the incident was “purely motivated by money.” Analysts also note that one incident involved a uniformed official targeting a Chinese national. Since 2021, PSA has recorded 12 alleged and confirmed abductions involving suspected government security forces and other uniformed personnel.
PSA recorded four successful kidnapping rescue operations this month. The operations were in response to three personal dispute-related incidents and one KFR incident. The victims were held by their captors for less than a day to four days prior to their rescue.
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