(UPDATED)

General Rommel Francisco Marbil, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), held a “high-level” meeting with the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) on Friday, April 11, to allay their fears and ensure their protection amid the series of deaths and reported kidnappings of Chinese nationals.

Marbil met with the FFCCCII executives “to address the growing concerns within the Filipino-Chinese community regarding their safety and security,” according to Police Col. Randulf Tuaño, acting chief of PNP public information office.

“We understand the urgency and gravity of these cases. The Philippine National Police is fully committed to resolving them swiftly and restoring confidence in public safety,” Marbil said.

In a media forum last April 9, Dr. Cecilio Pedro, founder, CEO, and president of Lamoiyan Corporation which manufactures the known toothpaste brand Happee, expressed worry about the spate of kidnappings and killings involving Chinese nationals in the country.

He said that since January, there have been 12 kidnapping cases, all of which are foreigners including 10 Chinese.

Just last April 9, Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Congyuan Guo, also known as Anson Que or Anson Tan; and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, were found dead in Rodriguez, Rizal. Reports said the owner of the Valenzuela-based Elison steel and his driver were kidnapped on March 29.

The killings occurred nearly two months after the reported kidnapping of a Chinese student in Taguig City. The student was rescued on Feb. 25, according to the PNP.

The PNP relieved Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) director, Police Brig. Gen. Elmer Ragay, and ordered the creation of a special investigation task group (SITG) to probe Que and Pabillo’s deaths.

During his meeting with the FFCCCII, Marbil assured them that the PNP “is on top of the situation” and “is exerting all efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice at the soonest possible time.”

“We are deeply concerned, and we will not rest until these cases are solved,” General Marbil added. “We are mobilizing all investigative assets and leveraging every capability to ensure these incidents do not recur.”

The PNP and FFCCCII agreed to establish a “collaborative program” focused on proactive measures to detect potential threats, including enhancing coordination with local police units, strengthening surveillance efforts in key business hubs, and providing safety briefings to member companies and communities.

The PNP also moved to allay concerns over perceived lawlessness and its impact on the Philippines’ international image, particularly among foreign investors and visitors.

Marbil reiterated that the country remains safe for business and travel, and that the police force remains vigilant and responsive to any threat to peace and order.

“We call for calm and unity. These isolated incidents do not define our nation. What defines us is our collective resolve to uphold the rule of law and protect all people living and doing business in the Philippines,” the national police chief noted.

Fil-Chi community fears extortion, too

Meanwhile, the non-government organization Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) urged the Philippine government to address alleged extortion activities against the Filipino-Chinese community in connection with the kidnap-for-ransom cases.

MRPO founding chairperson and civic leader-philanthropist Teresita Ang See said the Filipino-Chinese community is “rattled” as she accused some law enforcement agents of extorting money from Filipino-Chinese businessmen in Binondo.

“Of course they are rattled not only with the kidnappings but with everything happening around them. ‘Yung mga taga Binondo inilalabas sa kalye, hihingian ng papeles, ‘ano illegal Chinese ka ba?’ just to extort money. Rampant ‘yan (Those in Binondo are being forced out of their establishments and into the streets to ask for papers ‘are you an illegal Chinese?’ just to extort money. That is rampant),” Ang-See said over radio DZRH.

“Just ask General Marbil. He has to look into those things,” she added.

Ang-See said the entire law enforcement agency should be ‘overhauled’ with the rise of kidnapping cases, noting that the killing of Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Mr. Que is the third kidnap-for-ransom case in the past five weeks.

The first two involved the rescued Chinese student in Taguig City and another businessman, a food kiosk owner, who was kidnapped and released in December 2024 after paying a ransom.

Ang-See said she feels sorry for the PNP’s AKG as it “has failed in its work in the last 10 years.”

“Ang AKG naging promotions platform, palit ng palit ng mga personnel. Siguro kailangan i-overhaul nila ang buong system. Walang continuity, palit ng palit ng palit ng personnel na bago, hindi na nila natatandaan ‘yung protocol na ginagawa when a kidnapping case is live (The AKG has become a promotions platform, it keeps on changing its personnel. Maybe they need to overhaul the entire system. There is no continuity, they kept on changing their personnel with new people, to a point that they no longer remember the protocol when a kidnapping case is live),” she added.

Real estate businessman and writer Wilson Lee Flores said many ordinary business people are now worried about their personal safety.

"Here at an international conference I'm now attending in Malaysia, every time I say I'm from the Philippines, business people from different countries tell [me] they're afraid to visit as tourists due to all the negative crime and even [political] conflict," he said.

"They're asking me about the latest kidnap and murder of the respected businessman and his driver. It is sad, because I keep telling them that the Philippines is a nice and hospitable place," he added.