Director General Jesus Verzosa, Philippine National Police chief, has personally commended his men in Basilan for the successful recovery of all kidnap victims in the province.

Verzosa visited Lamitan town on Thursday to award each of the 35 policemen who were involved in operations against kidnap for ransom groups with a "Medalya ng Kagalingan."

The Basilan Provincial Police Office reported that from January to July this year, there were thirteen incidents of kidnapping in Basilan with twenty three victims. Eighteen of them were released, three were rescued while two were killed by their captors.

The most recent victim was a five-year-old boy who was taken by armed men in Lamitan and was released after five days, after his abductors reportedly discovered that they took the wrong boy.

In his talk to policemen in Basilan, Verzosa said there should be no let up in operations against kidnap for ransom and other lawless groups in the island province.

These operations should be in coordination with their military counterparts and with the local government unit concerned, said Verzosa.