3 more Chinese kidnapped over casino debts

Three more Chinese were reportedly kidnapped after failing to pay their debts to loan sharks in casinos, the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) said yesterday.

Superintendent Glicerio Cansilao, chief of the AKG investigation unit, said the cases were reported on Monday by an anti-crime watchdog.

Cansilao said the kidnappings are being probed by the AKG.

Teresita Ang-See, founder of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, said the victims are still being held by their captors.

“The mother of one of the victims appealed for help because her son had just arrived in the Philippines to work but fell prey to loan sharks,” AngSee told The STAR.

She said the lack of complaints against members of the kidnap-for-ransom ring encourage the suspects to kidnap more Chinese.

“We appeal to the authorities to ask the victims to cooperate and pursue the cases. In one case, the victim was rescued but did not return for the hearing. The AKG wasted its time, effort and resources to rescue them but they refused to file cases,” Ang-See said.

The anti-crime watchdog urged President Duterte to resolve the cases.

The STAR earlier reported that at least 13 Chinese were kidnapped from January to September this year for failing to pay their debts to casino financiers.