A Chinese man was killed in a shooting in Metro Manila on Thursday amid suggestions the incident may have been linked to the POGO industry.
The incident took place at 2am local time last Thursday 17 October when a man in black shot a shirtless man seven times in a hotpot restaurant in Makati, causing him to fall to the ground.
CCTV footage of the incident circulating on the internet shows a woman who was at the restaurant ask in Chinese, “What now?” before the shooter replies “Let’s go”. Another man in blue who was sitting in a chair doesn’t respond, after which the man instructs him to “clean this place up immediately”.
Police later discovered that the victim was a 29-year-old Chinese national while the shooter was also Chinese.
Asked about the shooting, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said it attaches great importance to the incident before referencing its support for the recent ban on the Philippines’ offshore gaming industry.
“Our embassy immediately activated its emergency response mechanism and provided assistance to the Philippine police in the investigation,” it said. “The embassy encourages the Philippine authorities to intensify efforts to swiftly apprehend the perpetrator and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and their property in the Philippines.”
Asked about the potential links to POGOs, the embassy said, “Law enforcement cooperation is an important component of China-Philippines relations. It plays an irreplaceable role in ensuring the safety of life and property of people of both countries and promoting their well-being.
“In the particular cooperation with the Philippines, we’d emphasize that the Chinese law prohibits any form of gambling. We welcome the Philippines’ decision to totally ban POGOs and crack down on POGOs still in operation and their relevant criminal activities.
“Since last July, approximately 140 Chinese nationals associated with POGOs have been repatriated under our collaboration. In accordance with the consensus between the two sides, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines will maintain close communication and cooperation with relevant Philippine departments and agencies to further strengthen law enforcement cooperation between the two countries, vigorously combat transnational crimes, and better ensure the safety and security of citizens from both nations.”
