Indonesia

PNP says rise in Chinese kidnappings linked to POGO worker influx

Aika Rey

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PNP says rise in Chinese kidnappings linked to POGO worker influx

Angie de Silva

PNP deputy director for operations Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar says the increase in crime is related to the number of Chinese who have arrived here

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police on Thursday, March 5, said that the spike in Chinese kidnappings in the Philippines is related to the influx of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) workers.

Based on the latest PNP data, there has been a total of 73 cases of POGO-related kidnappings from 2017 to 2020, and all 80 victims have been Chinese. In the first two months of 2020, two Chinese have been kidnapped.

“The increase in crime is directly dependent [on] the number of Chinese nationals that have arrived in here,” Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, PNP deputy director for operations, said in a media interview.

“That is why, while we accept that there is economic benefit to the country because of this, our concern, being in the law enforcement function, is the adverse consequence of this,” Eleazar added.

 

In the past 3 years, there were a total of 142 suspects linked to the kidnappings. Eleazar said most of the perpetrators were Chinese, but were “in cahoots with some Filipinos.”

Eleazar said that the rise in crimes linked to Chinese citizens is a “cause of concern,” as illegal activities are being perpetrated to cater to their growing population. (READ: POGOs linked to crimes: Forged PH passports, money-laundering, sex trafficking)

“Sa pagdami nila dito, eh pati na rin yung ibang mga business-minded, nagke-cater na rin sa iba pang mga pangangailangan ng kanilang mga Chinese nationals. Not just mga restaurants and other recreational concern, but pati na rin ‘yung prostitution,” Eleazar said.  (READ: Online gambling: Good for whose business?)

(Because of their growing population, those who are business-minded cater to the other needs of the Chinese. Not only restaurants or other recreational concerns, but also prostitution.)

The PNP’s top 3 said that they are currently in coordination with the Chinese embassy on the matter, not only on kidnapping cases, but other crimes as well. (READ: Number of Chinese kidnapped in PH jumps by 71% in 2019)

“There is now a closer coordination, not only with our agencies, but with the Chinese authorities here in the Philippines,” Eleazar said. 

The marathon Senate hearings on POGOs exposed the Bureau of Immigration’s bribery scheme, “fast-food style” prostitution services, and the “suspicious” entry of at least $447 million in the country.

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, March 4, called for the deportation of Chinese linked to crimes. In response, the Chinese embassy said that these crimes are “isolated cases” only and do not define Beijing’s policy. – Rappler.com

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Aika Rey

Aika Rey is a business reporter for Rappler. She covered the Senate of the Philippines before fully diving into numbers and companies. Got tips? Find her on Twitter at @reyaika or shoot her an email at aika.rey@rappler.com.