PNP concerned over rise in gambling debt-linked kidnap cases

PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) spokesperson, Lt. Col. Elmer Cereno attributed this to the rise in the number of hotel and casino leisure facilities in the Philippines, which eventually attracted many foreigners to the country. (File Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has expressed concern over the surge in the number of gambling-related kidnapping cases in the country.

PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) spokesperson, Lt. Col. Elmer Cereno attributed this to the rise in the number of hotel and casino leisure facilities in the Philippines, which eventually attracted many foreigners to the country.

“This invites syndicates with criminal mind, to involve in a wicked business of loan sharking inside the casino premises. Thus, incidents of kidnapping related to gambling debt, arises from 2017 to date,” Cereno said in a media statement on Thursday.

Since 2017, the PNP AKG recorded 52 cases of casino-related kidnappings and arrested 119 Chinese kidnappers.

“Consequently, it can also be attributed to the increasing numbers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operating in the Philippines. As of June 9, 2019, there were 56 licensed POGOs in the country, that employs an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 Chinese nationals. Yet, there were numbers (more or less 30) of illegal POGOS operating in the country,” Cereno said.

Casino junket operators, mostly Chinese nationals, through their agents, will also look for their compatriots abroad, as part of their efforts to target them for their illegal schemes, he said.

“They enticed them for a leisure visit, work or put up business in the Philippines. Eventually upon arrival, casino agents lured them to play in different casinos. The group will offer accommodations within the casino premises, and money, to lend in the form of casino chips, provided the victim will sign a promissory note, and their passport will be taken. Interest in every winning would be 20 percent to 30 percent goes to the lender as a commission. If the victim loses, he will be detained in a nearby hotel, or in other places, beaten, and videos while they are being tortured, were sent a copy to their family abroad, to coerce them to pay excessive amount through wire transfer in exchange for their release,” he added.

AKG Director, Col. Jonnel Estomo said they are closely coordinating and liaising with their foreign counterparts, the Department of Justice, National Capital Regional Police Office, the Bureau of Immigration, NAIA management and other PNP territorial units regarding the incidents.

He said the AKG has partnered with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation for the procurement of mobile communication/investigation van and also set a summit on casino debt-related kidnappings, aimed at forming an action plan to combat these crimes.

“In addition, AKG through its Information, Education and Family Liaison Division (IEFLD) in coordination with hotels and casino management, conducted awareness seminars on kidnappings matrix, and profiling of suspects; assigning of AKG intelligence team to all casinos, in coordination with the security managers/consultant to monitor incidents of kidnapping; and establishment of AKG advance post/satellite office and Chinese complaint desk inside and outside the casinos,” he said.