KFR gangs back in Iloilo?
Members of the affluent Filipino-Chinese business community here are reportedly out to guard themselves against the purported resurgence of Kidnap-For-Ransom (KFR) gangs in Iloilo.
While no confirmed attempts were made since last year's William Lim incident, no less than the city's top cop acknowledged the growing concern of Fil-Chinese traders.
In a report, The News Today (TNT) gathered that validation has since been done by intelligence operatives as per order of Police Senior Superintendent Wesley Barayuga, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Director.
Reached by Bombo Radyo Iloilo, Senior Supt. Barayuga clarified though that no solid or credible threat has been received by the Filipino-Chinese community. Yet the ICPO remains on the look-out, he added, while adding that peace and order efforts has since been strengthened throughout the city.
Talks however persist on KFR gang members on the prowl linked by intelligence sources to the forthcoming elections.
With the political exercise in the offing, same TNT source added that KFR is once again "in season" alongside extortion attempts and demand for protection money.
The Lim kidnapping stands to be the last recorded kidnapping incident and story that hit Iloilo last September.
"Covert" police operations extended to the province that later dragged a barangay official as among the six male suspects.
After five days of reported captivity, Lim's kidnappers finally set him free in what still remains a mystery.
If the family's claim is to be believed, no ransom was paid. It was not also known if charges were filed or the suspects arrested.
Ransom was asked allegedly at P20 million then down to P10 million, back to P9 million and last offer at P10 million.