An inter-agency committee will pursue kidnapping-for-ransom syndicates, the Philippine National Police said Wednesday.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil led the launching of the committee at Camp Crame,

The committee is headed PNP chief directorial staff Lt. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo with representatives from the Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Anti-Money Laundering Council, National Security Council, National Intelligence Coordination Agency, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Department of Information and Communications Technology and other relevant agencies.

Also included are representatives from the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Filipino-Chinese communities and other stakeholders.

The committee was created following the kidnapping and murder of Anson Que, a Filipino-Chinese steel magnate.

At least four people have been arrested in connection with their murder.

Marbil described the commitee's formation as a unified intelligence driven and victim center initiative against kidnapping rings.

Marbil said kidnapping is included in the focus crimes. The eight focus crimes are murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, robbery theft and car theft.

Marbil said kidnapping cases have affected the nation.

He added kidnapping syndicates have evolved, citing Que’s case where the perpetrators used cryptocurrency accounts to hide the P200 million in ransom paid by Que's family.

“We recognize that kidnapping is not only a crime of greed but a crime of fear,” he said. DMS