Filipino-Chinese businessmen in the country are calling on the government to intensify its operations against kidnap for ransom groups after receiving reports of the abduction of Chinese nationals and Filipinos of Chinese descent who were later killed for their internal organs.

In his attendance during the Senate's public hearing on the reported increase in kidnapping incidents and other crimes, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong said they are alarmed over the alleged abductions of mostly Philippine Overseas Gaming Operator personnel.

"We have likewise seen videos circulating in social media and messaging applications purporting to show abductions and torture of Chinese nationals. There were also reports of people, including children, who were kidnapped and killed for their organs," he told Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee chair, Senator Ronald "Bato" de la Rosa.

"After receiving those reports, we have conducted consultations with different groups of the Filipino Chinese community and relevant stakeholders, including our local government units and law enforcement officers, to verify the veracity of these reports. We could not confirm whether these reports are true," he added.

To avert this, he said Filipino Chinese community groups and the FFCCCII have proactively set up a hotline, where members of the community can request assistance or report any incidents of crimes they witness.

With this, he said they are also requesting all the members of the community not to spread unverified news or share unverified posts via social media and messaging applications, as unverified information may cause unnecessary panic and harm the international image of the Philippines as a tourism and investment destination.

"We request our government to continue to improve the peace and order situation in our country to attract more tourists and foreign investments. We want our economy to continue its growth and counteract the negative effects of the global pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine," according to the business group leader.

Rule of law

Further, he said his group espouses the upholding of the rule of law and strengthening of the criminal justice system in the country "so that criminals are kept off the streets, violence is nonexistent, and the economy is given the chance to flourish."