I’M referring to the major need for a ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to address incidents of foreign nationals being kidnapped, tortured and even murdered by their compatriots in our country which is really giving us a bad image abroad.

This comprehensive approach should include all government agencies and private organizations in the country as well as the community whose help is needed to detect suspicious activities involving foreigners involved in illegal activities in our land, majority of them Chinese nationals.

There is also a big need for the Bureau of Immigration to address the presence of illegal aliens in our country, a number of them already issued genuine Philippine passports after securing requirements including birth certificates from the Philippine Statistics Authority, of course for thousands of reasons.

PAGCOR, the BIR and Local Government Units with their ‘visitorial powers’ should also act up strongly in inspecting foreign-owned establishments specifically Chinese-run POGO facilities in their areas amid the discovery of POGO sites housing ‘torture chambers’ and illegal guns while engaging in sex trafficking, crypto scam, love scam and illicit online gaming. Please don’t put the blame on the police alone since these agencies have the prime responsibility and power to inspect these establishments, not the police.

While writing this piece, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin is continuing its investigation into unsolved cases of foreign nationals being kidnapped and murdered in Central Luzon.

PAOCC Executive Director Undersecretary Gilbert DC Cruz told me they have sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation in investigating the cases specifically those said to have taken place in Pampanga province.

“We have responded to several reports of murders and kidnappings in Pampanga province involving foreign nationals and have sought in particular the help of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group,” the retired Police Major General said.

Cruz said the cases they were investigating happened last November 15. One of them involved 30-year-old Chinese national Zhou Jie Hei who was found alive in Porac, Pampanga with five gunshot wounds.

“This recent spate of kidnappings has caused alarm within the community of the internet gaming license operators,” said Cruz amid suspicions that the foreign nationals are being kidnapped and held for ransom by their rogue compatriots who are involved in POGO operations.

An investigation showed that the victim was shot by his abductors before being dumped in a grassy part of Barangay Manctian in Porac municipality. Some local residents who found the victim immediately sought the assistance of the police.

During questioning, the victim, a native of Guangdong, China temporarily staying at 101 Hotel located on Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City, claimed he and three other fellow Chinese were seized at the vicinity of their hotel.

A second victim identified as Malaysian national Jason Yap Chow Shieng was found dead in an irrigation project in San Simon, Pampanga while a third victim, who remained unidentified, was dumped by his killers near the Porac Exit of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway or SCTEX.

It was obvious that those who abducted the victims were also in the area and most probably were talking with them. It was apparent that they went peacefully with the suspects not knowing they would be in for a lot of trouble.

The PNP-AKG headed by Brigadier Gen. Cosme Abrenica also rescued three Chinese nationals identified as Feng Zinian, Mo Yunhao and Chen Peiqiang in an operation in Meycauayan City in Bulacan last November 10.

Members of the PNP-AKG and the Meycauayan City Police Station also arrested two suspects in the kidnapping of the three identified as Chinese nationals She Baoguan and Zhang Bang Hui.

Two other female Chinese nationals identified as Guan Yue and Wana Ying were also rescued in Mabalacat City in Pampanga while a male Chinese named Liu Xien was rescued by local policemen in Batangas City and turned over to the Chinese Embassy.

The two arrested Chinese nationals yielded a semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing five live ammunition. Police are still investigating how the two Chinese nationals acquired the illegal gun.

The arrest of the two suspects came after one of their captives managed to escape from their captivity by jumping from the rooftop of a small building in Meycauayan City and landing in an area surrounded by banana trees.

The victim who sustained body injuries as a result of his fall was rescued by some construction workers in the area who later sought the help of security officers of Metrogate Complex in contacting the local police.

The local police and the PNP-AKG later launched an operation at the kidnappers’ safehouse located on Jemuel Street at the Metrogate Complex in Bgy. Pandayan which resulted in the safe rescue of their two victims.

Brig. Gen. Abrenica said their investigation showed that the victims who were working for a POGO company in Parañaque City were abducted by the suspects who demanded US$10,000 for their freedom.

The official said that the kidnappers also sent pictures and videos of the blindfolded victims while in handcuffs to their families to compel them into heeding their ransom demand. The suspects have been charged with kidnapping-for-ransom and serious illegal detention and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 before the Department of Justice.