MANILA – In the wake of a deadly shootout in Parañaque City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a comprehensive review of all unresolved kidnapping-for-ransom (KFR) cases across Metro Manila and neighboring areas.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the initiative is meant to bring together both recent and cold cases under a unified analysis to uncover possible links, identify patterns, and track down criminal networks.
“We need to see the bigger picture,” Nartatez said on Tuesday.
The move follows a police operation on April 15 that led to the rescue of a 78-year-old Indian-Filipino businessman and the deaths of four suspected kidnappers in an exchange of gunfire. Among those killed were two former police personnel.
While authorities consider the Parañaque case resolved, Nartatez emphasized that the involvement of ex-officers is alarming and suggests the possible existence of deeper criminal ties.
“It’s hard to accept that former colleagues are involved, but this makes our review of other KFR incidents even more crucial,” he said.
The PNP chief has directed the Anti-Kidnapping Group to match intelligence gathered from the recent operation with earlier cases to determine whether the suspects were connected to other unresolved kidnappings.
ia/xf
