EDITORIAL - Where are these Chinese criminals coming from?

Hot on the heels of two recent kidnappings that happened in Cebu comes another issue; the entry and operation of Chinese criminals or even entire syndicates here.

The kidnapping victims were both Chinese nationals and their kidnappers also consisted mainly of Chinese nationals, although a suspect in one kidnapping said there were also Filipinos in their group which was based in Manila.

For now there is no evidence that just one syndicate was behind the two kidnapping incidents. But either scenario is still bad; if it’s just one group then that means it is bold and confident enough to conduct one kidnapping immediately after the other, and if they were separate groups that means more than one kidnapping syndicate is operating.

But what is evident, however, is that they seem to favor Chinese nationals to do their dirty work for them. So where do these Chinese nationals come from exactly, and how are they getting into the country?

Not too long ago the easy entry of some foreigners became controversial after it was revealed that some of them only needed to bribe Immigration officers with cash rolled tight in the form of a sweet treat, hence the term “pastillas” scheme. It was allegedly taken advantage of by crime syndicates to bring trafficked persons, illegal workers, as well as criminal associates into the country.

While this issue has largely disappeared from public consciousness, are Chinese kidnapping syndicates operating here still getting a constant stream of “manpower” from outside?

This is not meant to disparage Chinese people in general, who are easy targets in a world becoming increasingly suspicious and hostile to China thanks to the policies of the Communist Party. By all means, we welcome the Chinese tourists, the Chinese investors, the Chinese students, and those with legitimate intentions to do business, study, or just enjoy our tourist destinations.

But we don’t welcome the Chinese criminals. Those imported just for the sake of supporting and furthering a criminal enterprise, whether that criminal enterprise is Made in China, Made in Manila, or even Made in Cebu, have no place here.

The government and law enforcement must take a close look at how these crime syndicates are building up their ranks.