Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat says the country is safe for visitors, despite reports from the country’s own national police that 49 people were kidnapped in 42 casino-related crimes in the first 11 months of this year.
“We will not promote a place where we know it’s not safe,” said Romulo-Puyot. “If something happens to even a single tourist, it destroys the whole Philippines.” She added that her department had renewed an agreement with the Philippine National Police to bring additional police to major tourist destinations across the country.
The police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group said most of the victims and suspects are Chinese nationals. Typical victims were casino customers who did business with loan sharks, then were kidnapped and held for ransom when they did not pay their debts.
According to the Philippine Star, Eric Go Yap, chairman of the House committee on games and amusements, said lawmakers will investigate the kidnappings of Chinese nationals employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), who were abducted by their own employers because they tried to leave the country to go home.
The Philippine government will begin issuing identification cards to all foreign POGO workers starting in January in order to better monitor, tax, and protect POGO workers.
