Crimes involving Chinese up 26% in south Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Crimes involving Chinese nationals in the southern cities of Metro Manila increased slightly from 2018 to 2019, the Southern Police District (SPD) revealed.

As of Dec. 25 this year, the SPD – composed of the police stations of Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Taguig and Pateros –recorded a total of 591 crime incidents involving Chinese either as victims or as suspects.

This was 26.28 percent higher compared to the 2018 figure of only 468 cases.

According to records shown to The STAR, crimes involving Chinese kept on increasing since 2016, with 157 cases in 2016 and 235 in 2017.

Of the 591 crimes recorded this year, five were cases of abduction, 21 for illegal detention and 28 for kidnapping.

The Pasay City police station logged the most cases with 201, followed by Makati City with 163 and Parañaque with 140. There were 54 cases in Las Piñas City, 19 in Muntinlupa and 14 in Taguig.

SPD spokesperson Major Jaybee Bayani said the Pasay, Makati and Parañaque police stations recorded the most cases as most casinos and gaming complexes could be found there.

She added that most cases are related to unsettled debts incurred while playing in casinos.