Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered a crackdown on licensed protective agents acting as private goons of some Very Important Persons, including businessmen engaged in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.
Azurin's order came amid the surge of kidnapping cases involving Chinese and other foreigners working in POGOs.
Just recently, a video of a confrontation of two groups of Chinese went viral due to violence that include shooting and stabbing inside an apartment building in Parañaque City.
The two groups of Chinese were backed by Filipino bodyguards based on the result of the investigation.
"In the wake of reports of alleged participation of some licensed protective agents in violent incidents involving their protectees, I have directed the PNP Civil Security Group and Police Regional Offices to conduct an inventory and accounting of all private protective agents providing security services as “bodyguard’ to some VIPs, including foreigners engaged in business activities in the country," said Azurin.
"We are launching a crackdown on unauthorized security personnel in POGO establishments and other industries that have become notorious for illegal activities and violence," he added.
In its report obtained by the Manila Bulletin when Metro Manila police chief Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo was still the head of the Anti0-Kidnapping Group, it noticed a steep rise in cases of kidnapping in Luzon, almost all of them are POGO-related.
Groups connected with some POGOs were also found to be engaged in brutal kidnapping incidents that include torture and decapitation of body parts of the victims in order to force their relatives to pay.
"The PNP CSG-SOSIA, in coordination with Police Districts in the National Capital Regional and other Police Regional Offices where there are known POGO operations are likewise directed to conduct inspection of all private security personnel performing security duties in these establishments, including watchmen, security guards, and protective agents," said Azurin.