Despite some high-profile crimes in Metro Manila the last few weeks, a well-known anti-crime advocate has revealed that kidnapping cases actually went down in the last two quarters of this year.

Tessie Ang See of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) attributed the decline in the number of cases to police efficiency and the full cooperation now being given by most of the kidnap victims to the authorities.

She said vigilance is still needed as she noted the possibility of a resurgence in crime incidents due to the economic hardship caused by twin devastations inflicted by cyclones “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”

"There is a big improvement in terms of the decrease in the number of cases of kidnapping and we at MRPO hope that it will continue," Ang See said.

The anti-crime advocate is one of those who presented citations to 17 Valenzuela City policemen for the rescue of a woman kidnap victim and the recovery of P2.9 million ransom money.

She also revealed that most of the kidnap victims are now open and comfortable in seeking police help, indicating the trust now being enjoyed by the police among the population.

She said it is obvious that the decision of the family of the latest kidnap victim to seek police help and cooperate with the authorities contributed to the victim's rescue and the recovery of the ransom money.