Senate panel proposes checkpoints for foreigners in kidnap-prone areas

A Senate panel has recommended identity verifications of foreigners, especially in kidnapping-prone areas. It also wants members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group to under Chinese and Malay language courses.

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs made the recommendation in its 40-page committee report on its investigation into the reported kidnappings that were earlier linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

"The PNP should regularly implement 'Oplan Sita' on foreigners at checkpoints wherein the police officers would be allowed to inspect and verify the identification of random foreigners, especially in the identified kidnapping-prone areas by local territorial units," the committee report read.

"The PNP-AKG personnel should undergo foreign language training courses, including Chinese and Malay, among others," it added.

Apart from this, the Senate panel recommended the repeal of Republic Act 11590 or the law on POGO taxes, implementation of stricter measures in the issuance of work permits to foreign nationals, and the review of the implementation of firearms law to ensure that foreigners would not be able to hold and use firearms.

"POGO is a system, or to put it in gambling-related terms, a large-scale bookie that facilitates the betting in games... Our country seems to have become a sanctuary for Chinese gamblers. In dire need to fund programs of the government, we picked a pack and dealt the cards," the committee report read.

"Had it been known back then that it would bring disorder, would the government have taken a chance on POGOs? There seems to be a misdeal. The Committee would like to believe that the lives and safety of our fellow Filipinos will always outweigh the revenues that POGOs bring," it added.

The Committee also noticed that it is "greatly, if not equally, alarming to know that these Chinese foreigners consider our streets the playground for their thug-like activities."

"Is it all worth it? The Philippines may have pushed its luck too far in accommodating POGOs. Our government must now pull all the tricks it has left in its bag to win against the social ills that come with gambling," the committee said.

"It is an opportune time to show the world that the Philippine government does not fold to organized crimes--we always go ALL IN against them," it added.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in his fourth State of the Nation Address, announced a total ban against POGOs. An Executive Order has already been issued to formalize the president's ban.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News