Group raises alarm vs casino-related kidnappings

MANILA, Philippines — An anti-crime watchdog yesterday expressed alarm over what it perceived as a rising number of kidnapping incidents perpetrated by loan shark syndicates in the country, with an average of two victims a month.

In a statement, the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) said it has documented a total of 23 victims of casino-related kidnappings since last year, with eight in the first two months this year or a monthly average of at least two people becoming victims of loan shark syndicates.

MRPO said there are other cases where the victims have not reported to the authorities and, as a result, their cases have not been documented by the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) of the Philippine National Police.

“The incidents are rising because rarely do the victims cooperate with authorities to pursue the case and punish the perpetrators. In many of these cases, crime pays and pays lucratively,” MRPO said.

Loan sharks prey on gamblers whom they would entice to borrow money at casinos. If the victims could not pay, they will be held until they pay the “ransom.”

In worst case scenarios, some victims end up dead. Among them is Charlie Chua, a Chinese whose body was recovered from a creek in General Trias City, Cavite earlier this year. He went missing after having dinner with friends on Feb. 20.

“Although he doesn’t gamble, his relatives said the friends who invited him work in online gambling operations,” MRPO said.

Another case is that of Zhu Fang Mei, who was rescued from his kidnappers by AKG personnel last Jan. 16 in Taguig City. He was brought to a hospital but later died due to severe head injuries after he was tortured by the suspects.