ON June 24, two bodies of Chinese businessmen were found in Sagñay, Camarines Sur.
They were suspected victims of a kidnap-for-ransom operation. According to Philippine National Police (PNP) PIO Chief Col. Jean Fajardo, the victims arrived in the Philippines on June 20 for a business trip, however, they were abducted by unidentified perpetrators.
On June 21, the families of the victims received a ransom demand of CN¥5-M, which is equivalent to about P40-M.
They families reportedly paid the ransom but lost contact with the suspects thereafter.
Following the killings of the two Chinese nationals in the country, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called on the Philippine government to take necessary steps to protect the safety of their citizens residing in the country.
“The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines urged it to make every possible effort to work on the case and take effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese nationals in the Philippines,” said Mao Ning, Spokesperson, China’s Foreign Ministry.
In response, a meeting was held on July 1st between the Chinese Ambassador and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who chairs the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), to strengthen efforts against transnational crime.
Kidnap-for-ransom cases of Chinese nationals should be valued and given attention—movement
Teresita Ang-See, adviser to the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, expressed deep concern over recent crimes targeting Chinese nationals in the Philippines.
She noted that this isn’t the first time Chinese nationals have been abducted and killed in the country, citing previous cases of kidnap-for-ransom. Ang-See lamented the lack of attention these cases receive.
But due to the high-profile nature of the victims, this case may garner more attention, especially with FBI personnel currently in the Philippines assisting in the investigation.
One victim was a Chinese citizen working as a marketing director at Suzhou Rainmed Medical Technology, while the other was a Chinese-American alumnus of Hunan City University.
“It’s saddening that when Chinese citizens are the victims, it seems quiet, nobody advocates for them. Usually, family members [of the victims] ask for our help on what they should do and what are the steps they should take,” said Teresita Ang-See, Adviser, Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order.
Use of terms that indicate ‘anti-China narrative’ should be avoided—movement
Meanwhile, Ang-See expressed dismay over a statement made by a priest in a video repeatedly using the term ‘slanty-eyed,’ seemingly referring to Chinese people.
“Why does the appearance of a person have become an issue now? Whether you are slanty-eyed, cross-eyed, or blind, you are still human. Why do you single out the slanty-eyed, why? Are only Chinese slanty-eyed? You have Japanese, Koreans, so what? You are condemning Asians for being slanty-eyed? We know what he means by ‘slanty’, but why would he use ‘slanty’, it’s a word very specific to a race that is Chinese-Filipino’s, it has never been used for other Asians,” exclaimed Ang-See.
She also said that people should be cautious in using words that indicate anti-Chinese sentiment.
“It’s very, very unfortunate why you need to do that, let’s also be careful because those loaded words and language like it hurts and it destroys our own humanity. Let’s just avoid those loaded words that are very anti-Chinese,” she added.
This is also said to have a significant effect on those who want to help the Philippines, and that more and more are becoming reluctant to come to the country because of racism.
“Using the racial card has very insidious collateral damage, which greatly affects the entire Filipino-Chinese community and legitimate Chinese investors and professionals who want to come here— who want to help the Philippines, who want to invest and improve our technology and our business climate,” she also added.
In the end, Ang-See said that violence would not resolve the conflict, and such issues should be properly addressed through proper negotiations.
“Let us remember that most of the conflicts in the world— Ukraine, Russia, the Hamas and Israel—many racial wars are happening, the misunderstanding, the difference in ethnicity. That’s why we should not exacerbate the situation. We shouldn’t visit the wars of our fathers on the next generations,” Ang-See concluded.
