By Jeffrey Damicog
The kidnapping of Chinese woman in Makati City has pushed the Chinese government to reach out to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to offer help in stopping the Chinese mafia believed behind the rise of crimes in the Philippines involving Chinese nationals.
NBI spokesman Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
NBI spokesman Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin on Tuesday, December 17, told reporters that a high-level Chinese delegation visited NBI last December 12 to hold talks.
Lavin said the kidnapping of Zhou Mei, an area manager of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), has prompted the Chinese government to meet with high-ranking officials of the NBI.
“It’s making a lot of news in China that is why they had to come here,” said Lavin about the kidnapping incident in Makati City.
Lavin added that the Chinese officials were also concerned about the rise in the crimes involving Chinese nationals in the Philippines.
“It has come to an alarming level and they believe that there is already operations of the Chinese mafia behind ,” he disclosed.
Lavin said that the high-level Chinese delegation was composed of officials from the Chinese Embassy, the Chinese government’s justice department, and Chinese law enforcement.
Aside from himself, Lavin noted that NBI Director Dante Gierran and other high-ranking officials of the NBI were part of the meeting.
“They are so willing to assist Philippine authorities,” he said.
“We will be sharing information on who are members of syndicates, who are here and the different modus operandi,” he added.
Lavin said the rise in crimes is related to the POGO operations in the country.
“There are crimes that would result necessarily or unnecessarily from the operations of gambling, legal or illegal,” he stated.
The NBI official noted that these crimes include prostitution as well as kidnapping and extortion against those with gambling debts.
Read more: Police: Chinese woman kidnapped along Paseo de Roxas was a POGO employee