MANILA, Philippines — Kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) cases in the country has dropped by more than 50 percent last year, with a police official attributing the significant decrease to vigilance of potential victims through information dissemination by the police and various groups.

And the police’s elite anti-kidnapping unit Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) wants to level up further in terms of information dissemination by tapping the film documentary of a kidnap victim himself that will be posted in the internet.

The documentary, made by Julian Rodriguez as a thesis for a master’s degree at the Dela Salle University, is now posted on www.dontbekidnapped.com.ph

“We want to get all the help that we can get to finally stamp out this problem,” said Senior Supt. Isagani Nerez, PACER chief.

Based on the PNP records, only 10 KFR cases were reported last year, compared to 21 in 2010. Most the cases last year occurred in Luzon.

There were 16 more cases that occurred in Mindanao but Nerez said they did not include those incidents since it is more of terrorism-related rather than illegal money-making operation by criminal groups.

“It’s actually the cooperation between the police and the stakeholders which made this possible. We want to sustain and further strengthen this cooperation,” said Nerez when asked about the reason of the decrease.

Nerez admitted that aggressive police operation alone, which he said they did in the past years, are not enough to stamp out the illegal KFR trade since their assessment revealed it was when several groups like the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO), cooperated with them.

Nerez revealed that such cooperation resulted in the mapping out of information drive campaign which now proved to be effective—the detailed “what-to-do-steps” to avoid being kidnapped and when already kidnapped.

Here are the PACER’s tips to avoid being kidnapped which were also discussed in Rodriguez’s film documentary:

1. Avoid routine when travelling

2. Appoint security officer in your family

3. Screen your workers well

4. Avoid a conspicuous, flashy lifestyle

5. Do not travel alone

6. Gas up during daytime

7. Always maintain your vehicle

When kidnapped:

1. Do not peep from your blindfold

2. Use your other senses

3. Never give financial information

4. Do not argue with your abductor

5. Think twice about escaping

If released:

1. Follow their instructions

2. Wait until the coast is clear

3. Report to the nearest police station (PACER Hotline 727-0000)