China urges Phl to solve kidnapping cases

CHENGDU, Sichuan – Alarmed by reports of the rising number of Chinese citizens getting kidnapped or killed in the Philippines, Chinese diplomats in Manila are appealing to the Philippine government to act swiftly on the matter and ensure punishment for perpetrators.

The Chinese embassy in Manila relayed its concerns to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine National Police.

Embassy officials held a dialogue with anti-kidnapping watchdog Citizens Against Crime and Corruption led by Teresita Ang-Sy to express their concerns over the safety of their nationals and help determine ways of protecting them while they are in the country.

“However, until now none of the killers have been arrested, none of the robbers have been arrested, none of the stealers have been arrested,” a Chinese foreign ministry official said in an interview.

The official could not say if ransom had been paid for the release of some of Chinese kidnap victims.

“We cannot provide information. What we are concerned about is the safety of our citizens,” the official added, stressing there was justification for the issuance of travel notice by the Chinese embassy in Manila for Chinese tourists visiting the Philippines.

“It’s our obligation to remind our people,” the official said.

Statistics culled from Jan. 1 to Sept. 18 this year by the Chinese embassy in Manila showed 12 separate kidnap-for-ransom incidents with 14 victims.  

Five of the victims were killed by captors and two were injured.

Records showed that 12 of the kidnap victims were from the mainland and two were from Hong Kong. The embassy also recorded 10 murder cases. There were also three robbery cases involving four citizens.  

Twelve other Chinese tourists were victims in seven recorded cases of “stealing,” according to the embassy.

The incidents were mostly recorded in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the embassy official added.

The embassy also recorded four drowning victims as well as traffic accidents that left two Chinese injured.