MANILA, Philippines — The sudden spike in the number of crimes—such as kidnapping—is “directly dependent” on the influx of Chinese nationals arriving in the country, PNP Deputy Director for Operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Thursday.
During the Senate blue ribbon committee’s hearing on the alleged money laundering, crimes, and other nefarious activities associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo), Eleazar said there were 73 kidnapping incidents related to casinos over the last three years.
There was a noticeable spike in 2019 with 38 kidnapping incidents, compared to the 16 cases in 2018.
“The increase in crime is well, directly dependent to the number of Chinese nationals that have arrived in here,” Eleazar told reporters.
“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, we can say, adverse consequence of this, that’s why we are coordinating closely with the concerned agencies, not just to protect the Chinese nationals but definitely our Filipino nationals,” the police official said.
According to Eleazar, with more economic activity and the more population the country has, more crimes are expected.
“Now, with the influx of Chinese nationals, definitely, more of these nationals, in proportion, will be involved in commission of crimes,” Eleazar said.
PNP deputy chief of operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar tells senators that there had been 73 casino-related kidnapping cases since 2017, 11 kidnappings related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) and an increase of prostitution dens in the past three years due to POGO operations. PRIB Photo
Eleazar said they are in continuous coordination with the Chinese Embassy regarding crimes committed by Chinese nationals.
“The Chinese authorities are coordinating with us, and through the Bureau of Immigration they caused the cancellation of their passport,” Eleazar said.
The Chinese Embassy earlier said that crimes such as money laundering and illegal pornography reportedly engaged in by Chinese nationals are only “isolated incidents.”
However, Eleazar believes that crimes are crimes even if they are deemed to be merely isolated.
“Kakaunti man or marami, still crime pa rin ‘yun. And ang pagdami noon is still directly related, in proporition, doon sa pagdami ng mga Chinese nationals dito,” Eleazar said.
The kidnapping cases had a total of 80 victims—19 victims in 2017, 17 victims in 2018, 42 victims in 2019, and two victims in 2020.
All 80 victims are Chinese nationals, Eleazar said.
As per the perpetrators, they are mostly Chinese nationals in connivance with some Filipinos.