Before going to the Philippines in 2015, I used various channels like Baidu to gather information about the security situation there, including reports of murders, robberies, and kidnappings, which were quite frequent, especially in the old Chinese districts in Chinatown.
Around 2017, near Makati Square, I witnessed a cold-blooded murder by a motorcycle gunman, the body lying cold under a bridge. However, this did not significantly affect the new Chinese gold rushers in the Philippines at that time, as everyone was aware that all the crimes were happening among the Filipinos and old Chinese residents, not affecting us, the new Chinese entrepreneurs.
However, everything changed after the pandemic, as many companies went bankrupt, and many people were stranded and unemployed in the Philippines, resorting to desperate measures such as robbery, kidnapping, and murder.
Since then, the Chinese community in the Philippines has continuously faced familiar cases, escalating with China's strict crackdown on gambling and the peak of the POGO controversy in the Philippines. Essentially, some of the new Chinese, illegally staying in the Philippines and facing survival crises, were forced into desperate acts. Kidnapping or killing someone was no different from their initial enthusiastic venture into the gambling industry in the Philippines. Such acts were tacitly permitted in a lawless environment similar to Kowloon Walled City, where the law does not care about the lives of Chinese people.
Where there is wealth, there is crime. The seemingly quick and large fortunes of the new Chinese attracted criminals familiar with the Chinese community, targeting this wealthy yet timid group. As long as the Chinese gambling community exists in Philippine society, kidnapping and murder will continue to be a byproduct of this industry.
Unless the rule of law in the Philippines changes, or someone truly cares about our lives.
Stay safe, kind friends.
-------------
For more content, follow my TG channel: Fifteen Years in Gambling Industry Observation, @bcguy888
April 16, 2025 update: When will the kidnappings in the Philippines cease?
Comments0
Sigh
Nowadays, it's not just the Chinese kidnappers, even Filipinos are messing with us.
Before, I could go for drinks at MAKATI AVE after work, but now I dare not go there anymore.
It used to be quite lively over there.
Although the Philippines used to be chaotic in the past, we knew it wouldn't affect us directly.
I also heard about that me from 17 years ago.
Too tragic
Leaving the Philippines is useless; the result will be the same wherever you go.
The final result still needs to be kept low-key.
I miss those times, but I can't go back.
/ THE END /
