CIDG SENDS WPD ON WILD GOOSE CHASE

A flash kidnapping report in Binondo, Manila sent a crack team from the
Western Police District on a wild goose chase yesterday afternoon, the same
day that Mayor Lito Atienza said that city officials and WPD officers were
a "harmoniously working together to make Manila a kidnap-free society in
the next few months."

Tension at police headquarters abated when it was learned that the
"kidnapping" was actually an anti-drug operation conducted by undercover
policemen assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Wild Goose Chase

Witnesses who reported the a "kidnapping" incident to the police said
they saw a man walking at the corner of Dasmari and Marquin streets near
Escolta when several men blocked his path and forcibly shoved the man into
a backseat of a car. The Binondo police station that received the report
informed other WPD units about the supposed kidnapping, sending a crack WPD
team on a wild goose chase until it was learned that no kidnapping actually
took place.

CIDG Operation

The WPD Intelligence Division later disclosed that the CIDG's Task Force
Dragon had arrested Hwen Huan Hong, a suspected big time illegal drug
peddler associated with a Binondo-based drug syndicate. Hong was arrested
for violating RA 6425 or the Dangerous Drug Act.

A check with the WPD Tactical Operations Center showed that it had
information of the CIDG operation in the area. However, the confusion
aroused because the Binondo police station had no knowledge of the CIDG
operation.

Anti-Kidnapping Measures

Earlier, Atienza had announced that 400 police officers would be deployed
in Ermita, Malate and Binondo to "rid the city of kidnap cases in order to
maintain the high stature of the city in the tourism industry."

The additional patrol teams would be on a shifting basis to keep the city
safe 24 hours a day from the operations of kidnap groups.

"We are deploying two battalions as reinforcements to the three stations
responsible for keeping the peace and order situation in the Malate, Ermita
and Binondo areas. We want these places patrolled all the time as to
prevent kidnappers and local criminals from victimizing the foreigners
visiting there as well as the residents living there," said Bulaong.

Atienza said the WPD must not allow these kidnap syndicates to enter and
operate in Manila's tourist zone, "because if that happens, that would mean
the end of Manila as prime tourist destination."

Bulaong said that failure of the officers stop or prevent crime from
happening in their locality would mean suspension and filing of
administrative charges.