MANILA, Philippines — Issuance of visas upon arrival (VUA) has caused the influx of Chinese people in the Philippines that consequently led to an increase in kidnapping incidents involving casino players and those in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Data from the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) have shown that kidnapping incidents related to offshore gaming operations became rampant in 2019. It also showed that while it had no case of casino-related kidnapping in 2016, it recorded a total of 24 incidents in 2017 and 2018, 35 in 2019, and two in 2020.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) started issuing VUA to qualified Chinese in 2017.
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Keep on reading: PNP-AKG: Visa upon arrival policy boosts casino, POGO-related kidnappings