The recent series of kidnappings in the Philippines has triggered nationwide unrest, especially the tragic incident where the Chinese businessman known as the "Steel King," Guo Congyuan, was killed after paying a huge ransom, not only shocking the society but also pushing the Marcos government to the forefront of political and social scrutiny.
From the initial kidnapping, paying the ransom, to the unfortunate demise, accompanied by the victim's family's angry accusations of the police's slow response, the anxiety among the Filipino people has been ignited. Particularly within the Chinese community in the Philippines, this incident seems to have opened a long-suppressed door of fear and anger, causing an emotional uproar.
What is more worrying is that there are signs that such criminal activities have become highly systematic. It is rumored that criminal groups are using some VIP rooms in Manila casinos and virtual currency platforms for money laundering. This type of organized, routed, and concealed criminal network is gradually becoming a replicable "industrial model." Kidnapping, demanding ransom, murder, and disappearing without a trace—all seem to have been proceduralized.
Although some casinos and platforms have initiated risk control mechanisms, the response speed and capability of the Philippine law enforcement units are severely lagging, causing a sharp decline in public trust in the national security system.
Data shows that in the first quarter of 2024, there have been 12 similar kidnapping cases, far exceeding the average level of the same period last year. This has not only plunged the Chinese community into panic but also caused widespread concern among the local population. People can't help but question: What exactly are the Philippine National Police (PNP) and its Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) doing?
Under increasing public pressure, the Philippine government has finally begun to respond. Prominent Chinese community leader Hong Yuhua publicly criticized the current inefficiency of the police system and called for the restoration of the high-response anti-kidnapping system from the "PACER" era. She pointed out that current kidnapping activities are no longer merely violent crimes but are mixed with cross-border money laundering and virtual currency operations, urgently requiring systemic reform.
Meanwhile, various Chinese organizations in the Philippines—including the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the General Business Association—have also made statements, demanding the government provide tangible security guarantees to protect foreign businessmen, especially Chinese, in terms of personal safety.
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) also issued a warning: These continuous Chinese businessman kidnapping cases are not only family tragedies but are also eroding foreign investment confidence and shaking the national economic foundation.
Senators Zhang Qiaowei, Ejercito, and other political figures have also spoken out, demanding a thorough investigation by the national police system and suggesting the establishment of a special team to fully address the increasingly severe kidnapping crimes.
Facing rising public grievances, the Marcos government has begun to urgently deploy measures to rebuild trust: promising to strengthen police patrols in Chinatown, Global City, Makati, and other areas around the clock; setting up "Chinese Community Exclusive Service Windows"; enhancing cooperation between plainclothes and intelligence systems; and attempting to incorporate Hong Yuhua's community collaboration anti-kidnapping concept to repair the broken trust mechanism between the governing team and the public.
However, many see these post-incident "remedial" actions as "locking the stable door after the horse has bolted," unable to compensate for the already lost trust.
In fact, the roots of this crisis were planted long ago: since the Marcos government took office, political resources have been mostly used to deal with the "palace struggles" of the Duterte family camp, neglecting the reconstruction of security, justice, and grassroots law enforcement systems. The latest polls show that Marcos's support rate has fallen behind Vice President Sara Duterte for the first time. This has made Guo Congyuan's case seen as "the last straw that broke the trust."
More and more Filipinos have realized that if the government continues to indulge in political scheming while neglecting the basic security of the people, it will ultimately pay a heavy price.
The public's questioning is no longer limited to the Chinese community; more ordinary citizens are also beginning to ask: Can a government busy with internal strife and unable to attend to security truly protect the lives and property of its people? Especially in the current context of the weak Philippine economy and tense investment environment, the frequent occurrence of such violent crimes will only further exacerbate social anxiety.
Today's Philippines stands at a dangerous crossroads. Frequent kidnappings, rampant cross-border money laundering activities, and inefficient police forces are not just problems for the Chinese but are a collective manifestation of national anxiety.
If the Marcos government still cannot deeply reflect and decisively reform the security system, focusing instead on party conflicts and political purges, then this trust crisis is probably just the beginning.
In the upcoming elections, public sentiment will be the most important "vote." And once the Chinese business community is disappointed and leaves, and the local middle class also collapses in trust due to security concerns, what can the Marcos government still hold on to?
May this tragedy truly awaken a slumbering regime.
