Since the COVID-19 pandemic subsided in 2023, a wave of robberies, murders, and kidnappings targeting Japanese, Korean, and Chinese nationals has struck Metro Manila and surrounding areas of the Philippines. Behind this trend lies a structural shift: as the Philippine government cracked down on Chinese-linked online casinos (POGOs), targets shifted from wealthy Chinese nationals to Japanese and Korean residents and visitors. Below is a summary of the major incidents and precautions to avoid becoming a victim.
Major Incidents
■ Incidents Involving Japanese Victims
• October 2024–present — Makati City, Taguig City (BGC), etc.: A sharp rise in robberies using firearms or firearm-like objects. As of May 2025, 16 Japanese nationals had been victimized. In some cases, victims who resisted were shot and injured.
• December 2024 — A commercial complex in Makati City: A Japanese tourist fell victim to pickpocketing, losing a passport and roughly ¥100,000 worth of cash.
• December 2024 — BGC, Taguig City: A Japanese company employee was threatened at gunpoint at night by two men on a motorcycle and had a smartphone and wallet stolen.
• August 15, 2025 — Malvar Street, Malate district, Manila: A major incident in which two Japanese tourists (aged 53 and 41) were shot and killed immediately after exiting a taxi. Philippine police initially described it as a “robbery,” but after arresting two men — the shooter and a tour-guide accomplice — announced that “the robbery was a cover to disrupt the investigation, and the primary motive was a targeted attack.” It has been suggested that someone may have ordered the killing.
• Around February 2026 — Angeles City (Pampanga Province): Three Japanese nationals were arrested on suspicion of involvement in a POGO-linked fraud, kidnapping, and ransom scheme. Information provided by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines helped trigger the crackdown.
■ Incidents Involving Korean Nationals
• August 15, 2025 — Malate district, Manila: Immediately after the Japanese shooting described above, initial local media reports stated that “two people believed to be Korean nationals” had been shot and killed; both the Korean and Japanese embassies later confirmed the victims were in fact Japanese. The area is dense with Korean-style karaoke (KTV) establishments, illustrating how this entertainment district makes both Japanese and Korean nationals easy targets.
• Prior case — Pampanga Province: A Korean man suspected of involvement in drug trafficking was taken away by on-duty police officers and strangled to death, in a past incident. The crime came to light only after his family paid a ₱5 million (roughly ¥12 million) ransom, illustrating malicious cases in which police personnel themselves are implicated.
■ Kidnapping Incidents Involving Chinese Nationals (Including Filipino-Chinese)
• March 29–April 9, 2025 — Metro Manila to Rizal Province: The kidnapping and murder of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que (Guo Cong Yuan), owner of the steel company Ellison Steel and a figure with close ties to the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII). Despite his family paying an estimated ₱100 million (roughly ¥175 million) in ransom across three installments, Que and his driver were found dead, having been asphyxiated. Three of the Philippines’ largest business groups — the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, FFCCCII, and the Philippine Exporters Confederation — strongly condemned the killing as “a heinous crime against humanity.” In the aftermath, the head of the police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) was removed from his post, and the Department of Justice announced the creation of a special anti-kidnapping task force and new specialized courts.
• February 20, 2025 — Near an international school in Manila: A 14-year-old Chinese boy was abducted in a chauffeur-driven car while walking home from school. The perpetrators are believed to belong to a Chinese-linked crime syndicate that lost its funding sources after the POGO shutdown; during the ransom negotiations, it emerged that the gang had cut off one of the boy’s fingers — revealing the brutal nature of their methods.
• Ongoing — POGO-linked facilities nationwide: Numerous cases have come to light of foreign nationals (Malaysians, Chinese, and others) being forced into “romance scam” operations and held captive inside illegal casino facilities run by Chinese-linked crime syndicates. In one raid alone, roughly 700 people — including 202 Chinese nationals — were rescued from a single facility.
Why Have Targets Shifted? — The Background to These Incidents
According to expert analysis, wealthy Chinese casino visitors were previously the Philippines’ primary robbery targets. However, as the Marcos administration cracked down on and ultimately banned POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, i.e., Chinese-linked online casinos — a ban law took effect in October 2025), the resulting decline in Chinese visitors is said to have led to more cases of Japanese and Korean nationals being targeted as new marks. It has also become clear that some Chinese-linked crime syndicates that lost their funding when POGOs closed have found a “new business” in kidnapping and ransom demands.
According to Philippine National Police (PNP) statistics, roughly 200,000 to 340,000 crimes were reported nationwide in the Philippines in 2024. Compared with Japan, the robbery rate is about three times higher, the murder rate about four times higher, and the rate of non-consensual sexual assault about twice as high. The Philippines is a “gun society” where legal firearm ownership and carry are permitted, and unregistered and homemade guns also circulate widely — meaning even a minor dispute always carries the risk of escalating into a shooting.
Precautions to Avoid Becoming a Victim
1. Vigilance at Night and in Entertainment Districts
• Entertainment districts and nightlife areas popular with foreigners — Makati City, Taguig City (BGC), Malate, Ermita, and areas dense with KTV establishments — are especially prone to robbery. Avoid walking on foot at night as much as possible.
• The moment right before and after getting out of a taxi or rideshare is when you are at your most vulnerable — make a habit of checking your surroundings for suspicious people or motorcycles.
2. Beware of “Drugging and Robbery” Schemes
• Don’t casually go along with friendly Filipinos who approach you at shopping malls or tourist spots (often posing as a lone individual, a couple, or a family).
• Never touch food or drink offered by strangers, and never let your own food or drink out of your sight.
• The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines receives victim reports almost every month, sometimes every week — ongoing vigilance is essential for both travelers and long-term residents.
3. What to Do If You Encounter a Robbery
• If someone points a gun (or a gun-like object) at you, do not resist under any circumstances. Prioritize your personal safety above all else and hand over your valuables without hesitation. Multiple cases have been reported of victims being shot and injured after resisting.
4. Managing Your Valuables
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash or expensive valuables. If you must, split them up rather than keeping them all in one place.
• Also be alert to “group pickpocketing” in crowded jeepneys, MRT/LRT trains, and shopping malls. Don’t leave bags on a chair unattended while stepping away in cafes or restaurants.
5. Kidnapping Prevention (For High-Net-Worth Individuals and Business Executives)
• The Anson Que case is a sobering reminder that paying a ransom does not guarantee release. Avoid fixed travel routes and schedules, and when using a chauffeured vehicle, ensure you have a trusted driver and adequate security arrangements.
• If you are involved in a business dispute or financial conflict, keep in mind the possibility of a retaliatory attack, and consider consulting a specialist such as a security consultant.
6. Gathering Information and Keeping Emergency Contacts Ready
• Register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Tabi-Regi” (Overseas Travel Registration) service before and during your trip, so you can receive safety updates from the embassy.
• Keep the Embassy of Japan’s emergency assistance hotline and other emergency contacts on hand in advance.
• Before traveling, always check the latest location-specific and safety information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Overseas Safety Website.
Conclusion
In the post-pandemic Philippines, against the backdrop of the crackdown on POGOs (Chinese-linked online casinos), the range of crime targets has broadened from wealthy Chinese nationals to include Japanese and Korean nationals. In particular, the August 2025 shooting of Japanese tourists and the March–April 2025 kidnapping and murder of a Filipino-Chinese businessman have driven home a stark reality: paying a ransom does not guarantee safety, and even tourists can become targets. Japanese, Korean, and Chinese nationals traveling to or residing in Metro Manila should each maintain constant awareness that they could be targeted at any time, and thoroughly follow the basic principles of avoiding solitary movement at night, never carelessly following strangers, and never resisting — these are, above all, the keys to protecting oneself.
Sources: Embassy of Japan in the Philippines (“Safety Measures,” “Safety Guide,” “Spot Information”), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Overseas Safety Website, Jiji Press, Chosun Ilbo, Wikipedia “Kidnapping and killing of Anson Que,” Kusanomido, SmartFLASH, Real-Time News NAVI (2025–2026 releases)
コメント