From: news@netnews.upenn.edu (USENET News System)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino
Subject: Police Break Kidnap Ring 2
Date: 13 Oct 92 20:53:34 GMT
Article-I.D.: microlab.-131092165319
Followup-To: soc.culture.filipino
Organization: University of Pennsylvania


	MANILA, Philippines (UPI) -- Police shot dead one suspected kidnapper
andarrested nine others, including a police officer and a soldier,
Monday in a heightening crackdown against kidnap gangs terrorizing the
powerful Chinese-Filipino community.
	Officers armed with assault rifles also began guarding 20 private
Chinese schools in the capital to protect students from the gangs that
have snatched at least 26 ethnic Chinese since August.
	Ethnic Chinese-Filipino executives and their family members have been
prime targets in a recent wave of kidnappings. At least 26 have been
abducted since August, according to sources in the Chinese community.
	``We are happy to see the policemen at our school,'' said Chua Chow
Kiet, vice president of the Chiang Kai-Shek College, some of whose 6,000
students have been abducted. ``Kidnapping happens at any time, and we do
not know when they will strike.''
	The September killing of Myron Uy and Kenneth Go, despite their
families paying a $60,000 ransom demand, galvanized outrage in the
Chinese-Filipino community over the wave of kidnappings. Other victims
had been released after large ransoms were paid.
	Several of the families, which control retail sales and hold large
stakes in other industries, reportedly fled the country after the
killings.
	The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce warned last
week the kidnappings could nullify progress made by Ramos in attracting
foreign investment, especially from Asia.
	``A great many potential investors are discouraged by our
deteriorating peace and order condition,'' the group said in a
statement.
	Analysts attributed a 33 percent rise in foreign investment during
the first eight months of 1992 to economic liberalization and a
perception of growing stability since Ramos was elected in May.
	Gen. Raul Imperial, Philippine National Police deputy director, said
eight of the suspects, including the one who was killed, were behind the
torture-slaying of the two young, ethnic Chinese kidnap victims last
month.
	In a separate incident, two other suspected kidnappers were arrested
on the outskirts of Manila after their victim escaped and alerted the
police, authorities said.
	The operations brought to 58 the number of suspected kidnappers
arrested since President Fidel Ramos took office June 30, the PNP said.
Four other suspects have been killed.
	Ramos praised authorities in a news briefing Monday for their ``fast
action to track down and hit the confirmed criminal groups.'' 
	Many victims of kidnappings and other crimes are reluctant to turn
toauthorities because of growing evidence that military and police
officials are linked to the gangs.
	The country's communist insurgency slammed the government's anti-
crime drive and said its armed wing, the New People's Army, would do the
job.
	In a statement sent to news agencies, the communist National
Democratic Front said the police and military had ``neither the
determination nor the capability'' to stop kidnapping and other crime.
	The 13,500-strong NPA has been fighting the Manila government for 23
years. Police have often blamed abductions on the NPA, which has denied
responsibility.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino