Kidnapping-Related Incidents – May 2024
In May 2024, PSA Intelligence recorded seven (7) kidnapping incidents.
PSA Consultancy recorded seven (7) kidnapping-related incidents involving seven (7) victims in May 2024. Five incidents were personal dispute-related while one incident was related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO). One incident during the period was perpetrated by a Kidnap-For-Ransom (KFR) group and involved or demanded ransom payment worth PHP 1.8 million (USD 30,683.47).
Of the seven kidnap victims reported during the period, four were foreign victims – three of Chinese nationality and one Indonesian national. PSA recorded zero kidnapping incidents targeting Western nationals this month. Based on the recorded incidents, three incidents happened in Metro Manila (one each in Makati City, Pasay City, and Parañaque City), while the other incidents occurred in the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Cebu, and Sarangani.
One kidnapping incident resulted in the demise of the victim. The incident occurred in Cebu and involved a 32-year-old woman who was missing and presumed abducted. Analysts note that the incident appeared to be personal dispute-related and may have been primarily motivated by murder.
One incident in May 2024 was POGO-related. The abduction involved an Indonesian POGO worker who was reportedly abducted by fellow POGO workers for ransom. Analysts note that POGO-related abductions have consistently declined in recent years, although Chinese-on-Chinese kidnappings have persisted month-to-month since 2021.
PSA recorded two successful rescue operations this month. The operations were in response to one personal dispute-related incident and one KFR incident. The victims were held by their captors for an undisclosed period and less than a day prior to their rescue, respectively.
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