Communism counts its opportunities in terms of decades - not of weeks. Its means of aggression consist not only of nuclear weapons and missiles with enormous boosters, and not only of spies, agents and terrorists, but of great masses of men and women, deluded by a common ideology which inspires them with a false hope.
— Former United States Attorney General Robert Francis Kennedy

NAIA, Pasay City — Despite the ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and allegations of espionage, the number of inbound travelers from Mainland China has increased by around 20 percent in 2024, triggering speculations that this development could be looked at as Chinese scammers leaving the country with them being replaced by spies.
Citing data from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), immigration commissioner Joel Anthony Viado disclosed that Chinese arrivals was at 500,082 in the previous year, a slight increase from 417,128 in 2023, as compared to the Department of Tourism (DoT)'s relatively smaller figure of 313,856, which is still an increase from last year's 264,922.
In view of these figures, security experts are now asking (with humor) how many of these more than half a million Chinese arrivals are actually spies and not just plain tourists who want to see and experience our beautiful country. Compounding this would be the estimated 11,000 foreign nationals linked to POGOs who have not yet been arrested and deported.

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AMIDST the glitter of our cities and communities, there are shadows lurking—as shown in the recent
kidnapping of a 14-year-old foreign student in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) that awakened our fears that danger lives amongst us.
Apparently, posh BGC, where the big businesses, gourmet restaurants and exclusive villages and schools are found, is not as safe and secure as it seems, even with the rich able to afford the security and technology the place needs to keep it free from criminal activities.
The teener's kidnapping sent shivers down our spine, not just for the victim and their family, but for all of us who live and work in a supposedly safe and secure urban environment. BGC, with its gleaming skyscrapers and upscale establishments, often projects an image of unparalleled safety and prosperity.
Last week's kidnapping incident starkly reminds us that even within the most meticulously planned and guarded places, darkness can lurk.
And information that the alleged kidnappers are linked to employees or 'bosses' of former Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) adds another layer of complexity and concern.
While the investigation is still ongoing, the connection raises serious questions about the regulatory oversight of this industry and the potential for criminal activity to flourish within its ranks. It suggests a failure to adequately screen and monitor individuals involved, allowing those with questionable backgrounds to operate with relative impunity.

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