The police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) is planning to send some of its personnel to foreign-language schools to learn Mandarin and other Chinese languages that are commonly used by Chinese citizens who are usually embroiled in casino-related kidnappings in the Philippines.
AKG director Jonnel Estomo said that the move is to expedite the post-operation judicial process on the part of the Philippine National Police, which starts with the investigation and filing of charges.
“Currently, we have to ask for the assistance of some groups to send interpreters in the conduct of our investigation, especially in getting the statements from the victims, suspects and witnesses who could not speak and understand Filipino and English,” said Estomo.
Currently, the AKG has to seek the assistance of non-government organizations like the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) for interpreters.
Estomo said that there is a need for them to have a team of organic personnel who could understand and speak Chinese languages like Mandarin and Cantonese.
This, he said, would not only help in the post-operation investigation and filing of cases but also in intelligence-gathering and case build-up against Chinese citizens.
Estomo came up with the new policy over the rising number of casino-related kidnappings (53 cases since 2017) that victimized 57 tourists, almost all of them are Chinese.
More than 100 casino-related kidnapping suspects, on the other hand, were arrested and were already charged since 2017.
The AKG attributed the rise of casino-related kidnappings to the presence of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) which are now employing more than 200,000 Chinese.
The AKG is yet to draft the guideline on how it would implement the policy of training some of its personnel to learn Chinese languages.
But Estomo said that the Chinese government has already promised to assist the AKG on this project. (Aaron Recuenco)
