The Department of Justice (DOJ) has admitted that there are still unreported incidents of kidnapping involving members of the Filipino-Chinese community in the country.
This was revealed following the DOJ’s ongoing investigation into the abduction and murder of businessman Anson Que.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla stated that it is undeniable that other kidnapping cases involving Filipino-Chinese victims have occurred but were not brought to public attention.
Remulla attributed this to a prevailing trust issue between some members of the community and the government, which has led many families to refrain from reporting incidents to authorities.
He expressed concern over this lack of trust, emphasizing that continued non-cooperation could hinder efforts to solve and prevent future kidnappings.
“There were some unreported incidents actually, many families chose not to cooperate with law enforcement and we only found out when it was already over,” said Remulla.
To address the growing concern, the DOJ plans to coordinate with the Supreme Court to designate a special court focused solely on kidnapping cases.
Remulla also assured that dialogues with the Filipino-Chinese community are being prioritized, adding that kidnapping is not just a national security concern, but also a threat to the country’s economy.