In 2025, the crime of kidnapping in the Philippines has evolved from an "occasional incident" to a "systematic threat". In just the first quarter, the Philippine police reported 12 kidnapping cases, with the victims almost exclusively Chinese—not casino tycoons, not black industry practitioners, but ordinary businessmen, students, and even 14-year-old children.
Frequent bloody incidents: from executives to teenagers, no one is spared
July 2024: Two Chinese executives were lured to the Philippines, and a ransom of 3 million was exchanged for their bodies
Two executives from a medical equipment company were invited to the Philippines to "inspect business" and were kidnapped upon landing. The family urgently paid a ransom of 3 million, but ultimately their bodies were returned.
The kidnappers were skilled: forging company information, using business negotiations as bait, and using Mandarin throughout the ransom process.
February 2025: 14-year-old Chinese boy had his finger cut off for a ransom of 1 million USD
The boy was kidnapped near the Manila International School, and the kidnappers cut off his little finger and sent it to his family as a "demonstration". After paying 1 million USD, he was released, but the psychological trauma will last a lifetime.
April 2025: Chinese businessman Guo Congyuan was tortured to death, and a ransom of 2.1 billion pesos still resulted in his murder
The "Steel King" of the Philippines, Guo Congyuan, was kidnapped and tortured. Despite his family paying a ransom of 2.1 billion pesos (about 26.8 million RMB), he was still brutally killed.
The kidnappers spoke Mandarin throughout, and are suspected to be associated with the illegal gambling group POGO.
The kidnapping industry chain: from "black eating black" to "indiscriminate hunting"
Target shift: Previously, kidnappers mainly targeted gambling practitioners, but now they target ordinary Chinese—"Chinese are walking ATMs".
Standardized crime patterns:
Deception: Introductions by acquaintances, business inspections, high-paying recruitment
Control: Confiscating mobile phones and passports, cutting off external contacts
Extortion: Video threats, demanding transfers via Alipay/Tether
Elimination: If relatives hesitate or call the police, they proceed to kill
Law enforcement corruption: Some kidnappers collude with local police, continue to commit crimes after paying for bail.
Panic among Chinese businessmen: Even Guo Congyuan couldn't save his own life, what can ordinary people do?
The death of Guo Congyuan shattered the safety illusions of Chinese businessmen in the Philippines—he was not a gambling practitioner, yet he was still labeled as "associated with POGO", and ultimately met a tragic end. Now, everyone in the business circle is at risk:
"Even Old Guo couldn't be saved, who can we trust?"
Self-rescue methods: Raising money to hire bodyguards, reducing outings, pressuring the police, closely monitoring media reports.
How can ordinary people protect themselves?
Short-term advice: If not necessary, postpone trips to the Philippines; if already there, reduce nighttime outings.
Long-term observation: If the Philippine government cannot rectify law enforcement corruption and combat the kidnapping industry chain, the security environment is unlikely to improve.
The Philippines in 2025 is no longer a "gold rush paradise" but a "high-risk zone". For Chinese people, "returning home alive" is more important than "getting rich".
