MANILA, Philippines – There is a spike in the number of foreign nationals arrested in Metro Manila over the last three years, records from National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) have showed.
According to the NCRPO, 806 foreign nationals were taken under police custody in 2018 as compared to 660 in 2017 and 745 in 2016.
For three consecutive years, data from the NCRPO also showed that most of the foreigners were arrested for complaints of malicious mischief resulting in damage to property. Specifically, 232 were arrested in 2016 and 232 in 2017 while 268 were arrested last year for the offense, police said.
NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said some of these cases involved rowdy foreigners causing trouble in some establishments.
“Karamihan dun yung nagwawala sa bar, yung malicious… Nagwawala parang minor offense,” Eleazar told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.
Eleazar cited a 2018 incident as an example of a malicious mischief case, where eight Chinese men were arrested by members of Pasay city police following a bar brawl.
READ: 8 Chinese nationals in Pasay bar brawl nabbed
Aside from malicious mischief complaints, most foreigners also landed behind bars for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Act of 2004. In 2018, 88 foreigners were arrested for the offense. In 2016, 60 were arrested for the offense with 66 landing behind bars in 2018.
Chinese nationals tops list of foreign criminals in NCR
Meanwhile, Chinese nationals topped the list of arrested foreign nationals in Metro Manila with 333 nabbed in 2018; 190 in 2017; and 170 in 2016.
Eleazar said the number of arrested can be linked to the recent influx of Chinese nationals into the country.
Eastern Police District chief, Brig. Gen. Christopher Tambungan said the number of Chinese nationals engaged in online gambling is on the rise in Metro Manila.
“Chinese lang online gambling lang ang dami. Iba ang mukha kausapin mo [at] hindi sila Filipino-Chinese,” Tambungan told INQUIRER.net.
According to Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, director of the Southern Police District (SPD), Chinese nationals are arrested “almost every day” by police in the southern area of Metro Manila.
“Marami yung Chinese, halos araw-araw may mga incidents involving Chinese nationals,” Cruz told INQUIRER.net.
Cruz said some of the more serious offenses committed by Chinese nationals include abduction and kidnapping. Most of the cases reported were linked to debts, Cruz said.
“Grave offenses dito involving them [Chinese] abduction, kidnapping for ransom. ‘Yung magpapautang sila tapos ‘pag ‘di nagbayad i-de-detain nila yung may utang sa kanila,” Cruz said.
SPD posts most number of arrests
In Metro Manila, the Southern Police District (SPD) had the highest number of arrested foreigners with 571 arrested in 2018, 412 in 2017 and 448 in 2016.
Cruz explained that the SPD posted the most number of arrested foreigners as foreign nationals frequent hotels and casinos in their area of operation. The SPD covers the southern portion of Metro Manila that includes the cities of Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Taguig and the Muncipality of Pateros.
“Dito kasi kung ico-compare mo sa five districts sa Metro Manila… Kagaya ng Pasay City, nandyan yung hotel [at] casino natin yan ang pinupuntahan ng foreigners. Sinasadya pa nila galing sa ibang bansa to engage in casino games,” he said.
Cruz, however, said the number of foreign nationals arrested in the southern district cannot be compared to the number of arrested in the other areas of Metro Manila.
“Hindi siya [SPD] pwede i-compare sa other district dahil sa other district wala sila masyadong foreign nationals,” Cruz said.
“Siguro dahil dito yung pinaka-progressive na district. Gusto nila [foreigners] progressive ang lugar. Gusto ng mga employers, aalamin nila kung saan pang city namimili sila ng highly-urbanized area… ‘Yung maraming entertainment establishment,” he added.
Here is the breakdown of number of arrested foreigners per district from 2016 to 2018 according to the NCRPO:
2016:
National Police District – 26
Eastern Police District – 40
Manila Police District – 164
Southern Police – 448
Quezon City Police District – 67
2017:
National Police District – 31
Eastern Police District – 36
Manila Police District – 113
Southern Police – 412
Quezon City Police District – 68
2018:
National Police District – 19
Eastern Police District – 36
Manila Police District – 99
Southern Police – 571
Quezon City Police District – 81
According to the SPD, from 2016 to 2018, Chinese and Koreans dominated the list of arrested foreign nationals with 522 and 194, respectively.
Neutral interpreters needed
When it comes to arresting foreign criminals, the absence of a neutral interpreter often hampers communication between the suspects and the arresting officers, police said.
“Kailangan ng interpreter minsan may mga kaibigan tayo pina-pakiusapan natin na Filipino-Chinese na nag-aral ng Korean language… mga Japanese ganun din yung mga interpreter natin neutral din mahirap na yung interpreter [ay] galing sa suspect dapat galing sa gobyerno,” Cruz said.
Tambungan said each police district in Metro Manila should have its own resident interpreter to assist in police operations that involve foreign nationals.
“Sa anti cybercrime group may resident interpreter [sila] yung mga Filipino-Chinese. Dito sa district wala pa pero maghahanap kami in case may mahuli kami [na foreigner],” he said.
Aside from the lack of interpreters, police also face difficulty in pursuing cases against foreigners who do not have permanent addresses as they often stay in hotels.
Cruz explained that some foreigners would move to another hotel after posting bail on their cases which could be a problem when they need be summoned during court hearings.
“Kasi pagnagfile ka ng case kailangan talaga yung address pagmeron silang viniolate na law dito magpiyansa lang yun and then yung susunod na hearing yung address na ilalagay ay hotel edi madalas na mawawala,” Cruz said. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)