PNP confirms casino-related kidnappings, prostitution increasing

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday confirmed before a Senate inquiry that the number of casino-related kidnapping incidents involving Chinese citizens appeared to be increasing.

Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar answered in the affirmative when Senator Franklin Drilon asked to confirm that the Philippines recorded 63 casino-related kidnapping incidents from 2017 to 2019.

"I believe that based on our experience, that figure could be correct," the chief of the PNP directorial staff said.

Upon receiving requested data from PNP, Eleazar later said that there were 73 casino-related kidnapping incidents from 2017 to 2020.

All the 80 kidnapping victims in the said incidents were Chinese nationals and 142 suspects were arrested.

The number of casino-related kidnapping cases notably spiked in 2019 at 38. During that year, seven homicide incidents involving Chinese nationals were also recorded.

Eleazar said that as regards kidnappings related to Philippine offshore gaming operations, there were nine incidents in 2019 and already two in 2020.

These incidents involved 16 victims, and 38 suspects were arrested.

Also on the rise are police operations targeting prostitution dens where 60 foreign nationals got arrested, 59 of whom were Chinese nationals and one was Arabian.

"These operations led to the rescue of 199 victims. Of the 199 victims, 173 were Chinese, 13 Vietnamese, two Russians, two Mongolians, one Japanese, and eight Filipinos," Eleazar said.

Eleazar agreed with Drilon that the increase in multi-national prostitution was alarming.

"Well, definitely sir," Eleazar said in response to Drilon's question.

"We don't have this kind of operations before but on the past three or two years—personally being the regional director of NCRPO—I personally supervised the operations or raid of establishments involving this kind of illegal activities," he added.

In previous Senate inquiries led by Senator Risa Hontiveros, POGO operations were also being linked to prostitution as women were allegedly being sold like food via messaging apps. —NB/RSJ, GMA News