Kidnap and murder of Filipino-Chinese steel tycoon shows an alarming trend in Philippine abductions
The Philippines is witnessing an alarming increase in the number of foreigners - particularly wealthy Chinese businessmen - being kidnapped, with some observers suspecting police complicity in these crimes.
The allegations come after the abduction and murder of Anson Que, a Filipino-Chinese businessman known as the "Steel King," along with his driver, according to an investigative story by East Week magazine,a sister publication of The Standard.
Following the arrest of two Filipinos on April 18 in connection with Que's case, authorities apprehended a Chinese national the following day, who is suspected of being a key member of various local organizations and is believed to be involved in at least five other kidnappings.
Reports indicate that Que was lured to a meeting with a Chinese woman in Bulacan province, where he was subsequently abducted. Despite the payment of a total ransom of HK$29 million in cryptocurrency across three transactions on March 30, both Que and his driver were murdered, with their bodies discovered in Rodriguez, Rizal, on April 9.
The 58-year-old businessman - originally from Yongchun, Fujian province - immigrated to the Philippines in 1985 and started his steel trading business in 1990. Over the years, he expanded his ventures into real estate, agriculture, and the restaurant industry, actively engaging in various Chinese community organizations in the Philippines.
He was the founding president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and was the former president of a Yongchun County general association in the country.
The Philippine police said that they are pursuing two additional suspects of Chinese nationality, who are believed to be the masterminds behind the kidnapping and murder.
Kidnappings on the rise
Que's tragedy is not an isolated incident in the Philippines, where 92 kidnappings were recorded in 2023. Over 20 percent of the victims were killed, indicating that it is not uncommon for kidnappers to execute their victims following ransom payments.
Wealthy foreigners in the country are increasingly hiring bodyguards to ensure their safety, and local commentators says that kidnapping has become a "business" for local gangs, with potential involvement from terrorist organizations and international crime syndicates.
The Abu Sayyaf Group, an anti-government armed organization, infamously engaged in kidnappings of tourists and locals in the early 2000s, demanding ransoms in excess of HK$18 million and also pressured the Philippine government to withdraw its military from the Jolo areas.
There have also been incidents involving collaborations between kidnappers and expatriates in the Philippines. A notable case involved a Japanese individual living in Manila who allegedly invited a Japanese friend to the Philippines, subsequently conspiring with two Filipino accomplices to carry out the kidnapping in 2018.
An anti-kidnapping unit was established by the Philippine police in 2012 to investigate kidnapping groups and pursue suspects. However, the rising number of cases has fueled suspicions of possible complicity within law enforcement agencies.
Li Kaisheng, vice president of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, has accused the Philippine government of incompetence and corruption, suggesting that some police officers may be involved in kidnapping operations.
In one of the cases, in which a South Korean businessman was kidnapped and killed in 2016, it was revealed that three police officers were among the kidnappers.
Chinese increasingly targeted
With the number of Chinese businessmen in the Philippines on the rise, kidnappers have recently shifted their focus toward the Chinese community, recognizing that these families are more likely to pay ransoms as they often distrust local law enforcement.
According to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, cases involving Chinese nationals constituted 30 percent of all kidnapping incidents in 2023, affecting both tourists and individuals working in the Philippines.
Some emphasize the necessity for enhanced oversight of law enforcement agencies to combat corruption and address the ongoing issue of kidnapping in the Philippines.
Senator Joel Villanueva has voiced his concern regarding the alarming rise in abduction cases, noting the issue affects not only the Chinese community but the entire nation. He has urged authorities to take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
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