By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Wednesday led the launch of the Joint Anti-Kidnapping Action Committee (JAKAC) that will focus on identifying, investigating, and neutralizing organized kidnap-for-hire operations in the country.
According to the PNP, the committee includes the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Department of Justice (DOJ); Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC); Bureau of Immigration (BI); National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR); Philippine Center for Transnational Crime; Association of Southeast Asian Nations Police; Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC); National Security Council (NSC); National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICT); Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT); and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
The group will also include private sector organizations, such as the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc.; Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption; Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order; Bankers Association of the Philippines; and Makati Business Club; as well as the media.
In his speech, Marbil said the collective effort of government agencies against organized kidnap-for-hire operations in the country is a clear manifestation of the strong resolve under the banner of Bagong Pilipinas to secure the liberty and safety of every Filipino and foreigner living in the Philippines.
“This initiative reflects the firm commitment to uphold justice, protect the vulnerable, and restore public trust,” he said.
He noted that in the past years, kidnapping cases have evolved, becoming more complex, transnational and often targeting the most vulnerable women, children, businessmen, and even foreign nationals.
“The rise in sophistication and impunity of such criminal activities compels us to respond with equal if not greater resolve. That is precisely what the joint action-kidnapping action committee embodies,” Marbil said.
“A unified intelligence-driven and victim-centered mechanism to counter kidnapping through proactive collaboration; this committee is just not a PNP initiative – it is a whole nation response.”
The formation of the JAKAC, to be led by PNP Chief of the Directorial Staff and Deputy Chief for Investigation Lt. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo, comes in the wake of the successful resolution of the kidnapping and murder case of businessman Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo.
Marbil said the JAKAC is patterned after the joint anti-bank robbery action committee, as kidnapping cases have become more complex and transnational.
He said involving multiple government agencies would result in quicker response time and case resolution.
The JAKAC can also trace money laundering activities of the kidnapping syndicates, can trace the money trail, even when ransom payments are made through cryptocurrency, he said. (PNA)
