BY AARON RECUENCO
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THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has decided to revert to its original name its tourist assistance desks apparently over criticisms of special treatment especially in the social media.
From the Chinese Help Desks, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said that it will now be named Tourist Assistance Desks and will cater to all foreigners who need security assistance while staying in the country.
“These Chinese help desks will just revert back to their original intended purpose,” said Banac.
In the past days, the PNP has been the subject of intense criticisms over photos of Chinese Help Desks which netizens described as special treatment to a particular group of foreigners. This amid the going anti-Chinese sentiments over the West Philippine Sea territorial dispute.
Banac explained that the idea of having Chinese Help Desks in every police station stemmed from the series of kidnapping activities involving Chinese as both victims and suspects.
He revealed that the Chinese embassy sought the assistance of the PNP to address the rising number of Chinese nationals getting involved or victimized in crimes such as kidnapping related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and casino loan shark operations.
“These desks are actually just the same tourist police help desks installed by PNP to address security needs of all tourists in previous years and during the surge in arrivals of Chinese tourists and until early this year when the Chinese embassy sought the help of the PNP,” said Banac.
The official explained that another reason why the Chinese Help Desks were reverted to its original name was that it became irrelevant since most of the policemen manning the desks were reassigned to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response.
But despite this, Banac assured that the PNP, through its Anti-Kidnapping Group, continues to maintain a helpdesk for kidnapping cases involving Chinese tourists, expats, and gaming workers.
