• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Tourism Secretary says Philippines safe despite kidnaps

Dec 12, 2019 Newsdesk Latest News, Philippines, Top of the deck  


Tourism Secretary says Philippines safe despite kidnaps

The Philippine Department of Tourism said on Wednesday the country remained safe for visitors.

It followed widespread reporting of data from the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group indicating a total of 42 cases of abduction – linked to scenarios involving either bricks-and-mortar casinos or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) – for the first 11 months of this year.

The majority of the victims and suspects was Chinese nationals, the Philippine News Agency reported earlier this week, citing police anti-abduction squad spokesperson Jowel Saliba.

The news agency carried the tourism department’s subsequent clarification.

“We will not promote a place where we know it’s not safe… If something happens to even a single tourist, it destroys the whole Philippines” market, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Tourism Secretary, was cited as saying on the sidelines of an event in the national capital Manila.

The Secretary (pictured in a file photo) added that her department had renewed an agreement with the Philippine National Police whereby additional police are being stationed in major travel destinations across the country.

A video purportedy showing a woman being dragged into a vehicle in Makati in Metro Manila has been widely circulated on social media as evidence of a recent kidnapping witnessed by members of the public. GGRAsia was not able to verify the content of the video.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Pagcor says 35pct of revenue owed from POGOs ‘resolved’
    Pagcor says 35pct of revenue owed from...

    Jun 27, 2022  

  • Pagcor missing US$43mln revenue from POGOs: audit
    Pagcor missing US$43mln revenue from...

    Jun 23, 2022  

More news
  • Only 2 Macau satellites closed as concessions extended
    Only 2 Macau satellites closed as...

    Jun 29, 2022  

  • LVS full recovery may take until 2024: Moody’s
    LVS full recovery may take until 2024:...

    Jun 29, 2022  


Latest News

Only 2 Macau satellites closed as concessions extended

Only 2 Macau satellites closed as concessions extended

Jun 29, 2022  

Only two of Macau’s 18 satellite casinos – the Rio Casino and the President Casino – have closed amid changes to the city’s regulatory system for such properties, and against...
Read More
LVS full recovery may take until 2024: Moody’s

LVS full recovery may take until 2024: Moody’s

Jun 29, 2022  

Satellite casino ops still to Dec 31 at Casa Real, Grandview

Satellite casino ops still to Dec 31 at Casa Real,

Jun 29, 2022  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

"There is still no clarity about when border easing for Macau will occur. In the end these changes are needed to see a rebound for Macau business"

Vitaly Umansky, Louis Li and Shirley Yang

Analysts at brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein



Most Popular

  • Macau casino Covid tests from Fri, ops pay for staff testsMacau casino Covid tests from Fri, ops pay for staff tests June 28, 2022
  • China quarantine easing good signal for Macau: analystsChina quarantine easing good signal for Macau: analysts June 29, 2022
  • SJM to make 2nd of pledged staff subsidy payments for 2022SJM to make 2nd of pledged staff subsidy payments for 2022 June 27, 2022
  • Moody’s confirms SJM Holdings’ ratings, negative outlookMoody’s confirms SJM Holdings’ ratings, negative… June 27, 2022
  • MGM China gets deal for use of MGM brands renewedMGM China gets deal for use of MGM brands renewed June 27, 2022
Copyright 2014-2022 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us