Rise in kidnapping related to POGO closures, says anti-crime group

A surge in kidnapping cases across the Philippines has raised serious concerns, with an anti-crime advocacy group attributing the rise to the shutdown of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

According to Marisol Abduhraman’s 24 Oras report on Wednesday, fears are heightened by a particularly brutal case in which a kidnapped 14-year old student had a finger severed by his captors and sent to his family.

Teresita Ang-See, founding chairman of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO), condemned the act as an unprecedented level of cruelty. 

“Very sadistic type of kidnapping only this time. This is a very inhumane way of treating victims, and we have never encountered anything like this before,” she stated.

While kidnapping-for-ransom is not new in the Philippines, the MRPO noted this was the first time they had seen such extreme cruelty inflicted upon a victim—particularly a minor. The ransom demand was also unusually high, according to Ang-See.

The victim’s family reportedly informed authorities they believe the crime is linked to POGOs. The key suspect, the family's driver, was found to have previously worked in a major POGO company in Clark, Pampanga. 

“Because the driver used to work in a big, in a very big POGO business in Clark. and the driver has been with them for only one month. The same na naririnig namin POGO victims, POGO hostages na hindi nakabayad ng utang o kaya, ganun the same treatment and his voice,” she added.

(We heard the same about POGO victims, POGO hostages who weren't able to pay their debts or something, that's the same treatment and his voice.)

According to the MRPO, at least four kidnapping cases were recorded in January alone, with most perpetrators linked to Chinese crime syndicates.

While not all victims have direct ties to POGOs, Ang-See emphasized that many cases bear striking similarities to previous POGO-related abductions.

“The business community is in a panic because this is what they are afraid of. Most of the perpetrators are Chinese syndicates. The victims are not all POGO-related. The government is caught flat footed. Hindi sila (They are not) prepared what to do. Filipino drivers are without jobs, not just the Chinese are without jobs. We have to be more vigilant with the things happening now,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Wednesday that a syndicate involved in the operations of a POGO before was behind the kidnapping of an international student in Taguig City.

''We are definite na ang sindikato na nasa likod ng kidnapping ay former operators ng POGO din. We are definite na ang perpetrators ay ginamit ang kanilang former bodyguards na AWOL (absent without leave) na ngayon sa serbisyo ng AFP at PNP,'' Remulla said in a briefing at Malacanang Palace.

He noted the perpetrators of the crime are still here in the country.

''We will make sure that they will be neutralized at the soonest possible time,''  the DILG head said. — Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News