PNP Press Statement 2005

PRESS STATEMENT OF POLICE DIRECTOR GENERAL ARTURO C LOMIBAO

The State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was in part an acknowledgement of the efforts of the Philippine National Police to stem the tide of criminality and lawlessness in all fronts.

While the PNP was busy ensuring order in mass actions, it remained focused on anti-crime operations particularly against high-profile crime.

President Arroyo cited in her SONA that the "rash of kidnappings have become a thing of the past". This statement of confidence by the President is based on the drastic reduction of KFR cases over the past four years under her administration.

From a high of 99 cases in 2001, 66 cases in 2002, and 82 cases in 2003, kidnapping incidents dipped to only 29 cases in 2004, and further down to only 16 incidents during the first six months of 2005.

In the first semester of 2005, only four (4) incidents each were committed in the months of January and May, three (3) cases each in April and June, and only one (1) case each in February and March. The PNP and the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF), mainly thru the efforts of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER), have solved seven (7) of the 16 cases reported this year or a KFR Solution Efficiency rating of 43.75%.

Of the original 24 personalities in our KFR Most Wanted Watchlist, only seven (7) remain unaccounted for. However, emerging personalities were added to the new Wanted List which are now the subject of continuing manhunt operations. Very soon we will be publishing this list to hasten their neutralization.

Yesterday afternoon, I met the NAKTF personnel at the PACER Headquarters to conduct an assessment of the KFR situation. I also talked to Ms. Tessie Ang See over the phone and asked her to work closely with us in validating cases referred to her. In our assessment, our success against kidnapping is attributed largely to the support of the community complemented by the continuous vigilance of our law enforcement agencies.

This year, a total of Php 9.6-million reward have been released to confidential informants who have provided us with valuable information that led to the neutralization of kidnappers, including 15 Most Wanted KFR personalities.

To reverse the trend in kidnapping, NAKTF will intensify checkpoint operations, manhunt operations, and visibility patrols, preventive education, case build-up on unsolved cases, effective prosecution, and the reward system.