MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday it launched a new anti-kidnapping task force to deal with the problem, particularly in Mindanao.

PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome said the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) replaces the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER), which had been deactivated under a resolution approved by the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Bartolome said the PNP-AKG, which will be a regular PNP national operating unit, will also be headed by former PACER chief Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, a lawyer from Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1984.

The PNP leadership envisions the PNP-AKG to be a highly-capable unit with well-trained and equipped hostage negotiators, investigators, crisis managers and tactical officers by the year 2030.

Bartolome expressed optimism that the newly formed PNP-AKG will deliver more accomplishments in the fight against kidnappings and handling of hostage negotiations.

The PACER was created on July 27, 2002 amid the spate of kidnappings in the country.

“With more personnel, PNP-AKG can deliver more accomplishments in the fight against kidnapping perpetrated by organized crime and terrorist groups,” Bartolome said.

The PNP chief said the AKG would be the primary unit of the PNP in handling all kidnapping cases and hostage negotiations nationwide. (PNA)

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