The Senate building in Pasay (Philippine Daily Inquirer file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Senators Joel Villanueva and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to take a closer look at the alleged Makati kidnapping incident involving Chinese nationals.
“While we have confidence in their organization, we call on the Philippine National Police to give this issue a closer scrutiny, especially since security concerns inevitably have indirect consequences, such as negative impacts on the attractiveness of the country as a potential area for expansion of businesses,” Villanueva said Tuesday in a statement.
Villanueva, chair of the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources development, noted the increase in crimes involving foreigners alongside the increase of Philippine offshore gaming operations (Pogo) firms in the country.
“During our hearing on the influx of illegal foreign workers in the previous Congress, resource persons from the police mentioned the rise of crimes involving foreigners since the boom of Pogo firms in the country. If these kinds of incidents continue to rise, then the police may need to recalibrate its efforts to secure our people,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva also called on the cooperation of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in probing the incident.
“We also reiterate our plea to action to various government agencies involved in this matter, especially to the joint DOLE-BI-BIR-DOJ task force, to immediately coordinate with each other to investigate and run after illegal foreign workers in the country,” he said.
Dela Rosa, on the other hand, said it is not much of a concern, but stressed the crime should stop nonetheless.
“Hindi gaano yan concern dahil kung yan ay kidnapping for ransom victimizing Filipino businessmen o kahit sinong ordinaryong Filipino, cause of concern yan sa lahat ng Filipino,” Dela Rosa said in an interview.
(That’s not much of a concern because if it was a kidnapping for ransom victimizing Filipino businessmen or any ordinary Filipino, it’s a cause of concern for all.)
“Pero sila silang mga intsik ang nagkikidnapan. Bakit meron na bang Pilipinong kinidnap ng Chinese? Wala pa naman e. But still, there is a crime. And that should be stopped. Dapat active ang ating kapulisan,” he added.
(But the Chinese are kidnapping their fellow Chinese. Why, is there a Filipino who has been kidnapped by Chinese? There’s none yet. But still, there is a crime. And that should be stopped. The police should be active.)
Police earlier identified the victim in the viral video of a woman allegedly being abducted in Makati City as Zhou Mei, 28, a worker at a Pogo firm.