3 Chinese involved in kidnapping deported to Beijing

THREE Chinese allegedly engaged in kidnapping activities in the Philippines have been deported to Beijing, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said yesterday.

The embassy said the three, who were not identified, were arrested and deported last July 13.

“On July 13, law enforcement authorities of China and the Philippines jointly conducted repatriation of three suspects to China who engaged in kidnapping in the Philippines. This operation fully demonstrated once again the strong determination of the two countries to jointly combat kidnapping and other crimes related to offshore gambling,” the embassy said in a statement.

Aside from their alleged involvement in kidnapping activities, the embassy said the three were also reportedly involved in the operation of illegal online games.

“The Chinese law prohibits any form of gambling. Online gambling, cross-border gambling by Chinese nationals, and running casinos outside China to solicit Chinese nationals are all illegal in China,” it said.

“The Chinese government has always taken tough measures to combat crimes such as gambling and kidnapping,” it added.

The embassy said the Chinese government will “continue to strengthen practical law enforcement cooperation with the Philippine side, support the latter in addressing the root cause of crimes related to offshore gambling, and join hands to crackdown kidnapping and other crimes.”

The Bureau of Immigration has yet to issue a statement and identify the deported Chinese.

Last year, 1,085 erring foreigners were arrested by immigration officers, the majority of them South Korean and Chinese, while 3,300 more were denied entry after being found to be improperly documented, blacklisted or having a doubtful purpose of entering the country as well as other immigration violations.