What's Wrong with our Anti-Kidnapping Stategy?

February 4, 2013 PRESS STATEMENT WHATS WRONG WITH OUR ANTI-KIDNAPPING STRATEGY? VACC condemns in the strongest possible terms the death of another victim of Kidnap-forRansom Jose Bebot Saribong of Albay. The KFR victim, a successful businessman and a former Board Member of Albay who lived in Antipolo City, was forcibly taken by the suspects at 12:35 A.M. on January 23, 2013 together with his driver Jimmy Palermo who was killed outright during the abduction incident at Golden Meadows Subdivision along Marcos Highway, Antipolo City and consequently ransom negotiations ensued. The family of the victim has tasked the undersigned Dante Jimenez, VACC Founding Chairman and President as their spokesperson because of his being a close relative of the victims wife. The grief and bitterness that the family feels at the moment is beyond any words. They feel deeply aggrieved because despite their cooperation with the kidnappers, the kidnappers still killed their victim without mercy.The police discovered his cemented body in the kidnappers hide-out. This is a most horrible form of cruelty. Why the kidnappers still killed their victim despite the willingness of the family to give in to their ransom demands speak of impunity which is extremely disturbing. Also, it reflects certain loopholes in our anti-kidnapping strategy, Jimenez said. The victims family said that while they appreciate the efforts of the PNPs Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) who have captured several suspects in the kidnapping and have exposed their safe house in Cogeo, Antipolo City on February 2, 2013, the family feels the death of their loved one was something which should not have happened. There is something seriously wrong in our strategy here, Jimenez and called for a review of a seemingly ineffective system in ensuring the safety of KFR victims. The bottom line is, we should keep the victims/alive, he said. He said that the VACC is recommending that the PNP should take a second look at the usual strategy of imposing a total news blackout on the kidnapping incident purportedly to avoid preempting ongoing negotiations. This seems to embolden the suspects, he said. He suggested that if there is no longer proof or any sign that the kidnap victim is alive , then the public must be informed that the subject is missing and would need the cooperation of the community through Media dissemination. Should there no be indication or proof of life, then the total news blackout should be lifted, Jimenez said. Prepared by: Dante Jimenez Founding Chairman/President, VACC Spokesman of Victims Family