Manila kidnap case: S’poreans more wary on trips to Philippines

SINGAPORE — Following news of the rescue of a Singaporean woman kidnapped at a Manila casino, those who travel often to the Philippine capital say they will stay extra vigilant when they are there.

Ms Melissa Chong, 27, a programme manager with a non-profit organisation, has travelled to Manila for work about three times this year. Taken aback by the news, she said: “(To think) that it happened in a place where security is tight, with security guards stationed around the entrances and bag checks ... I was a little anxious (when I learnt about it).”

While she will not postpone her upcoming trip in September, Ms Chong will now think twice about heading out after dark. She is also planning to get around the city using ride-sharing services such as Uber because the booking through a mobile application provides better tracking.

Other Singaporeans who spoke to TODAY said they have always been careful about safety when travelling to the Philippines.

Mr Justin Kor, 25, a recent graduate from Nanyang Technological University, said that when he was in Manila last December, he was more worried about, say, encountering pickpockets instead of violent criminals. While exploring the slums of Manila, he was told to get out of these areas before sunset.

“I’m confident that the police presence will (be stepped up against) such cases … But I will just be on my guard (the next time I go back),” he said.

Yesterday, the Philippine National Police issued a statement about the kidnapping of 48-year-old Singaporean Wu Yan. The woman was taking part in gaming activities at Solaire Resorts and Casino on Monday when two Malaysians befriended her and invited her to play at City of Dreams Manila, another casino resort.

At around 9.45pm, the suspects kidnapped her, held her hostage in a room at Bayview International Condominium and demanded US$180,000 (S$246,200) for her release. She was rescued the following day.

The two Malaysians have been arrested along with 41 Chinese nationals, and they are part of a loanshark syndicate, the police said.

In another recent high-profile case, a lone gunman stormed the Resorts World Manila entertainment complex in June, killing at least 36 people who mostly suffocated in thick smoke — in an attack claimed by the Islamic State terror group, but officials insisted that it was a botched robbery.

The tour agencies TODAY contacted, such as Chan Brothers Travel, said there have been no cancellation requests or calls from customers about bookings to the Philippines.

Mr David Teo, 59, managing director of Fascinating Holidays, said he anticipates a dip of 10 to 15 per cent in bookings to Manila. However, he noted that, while people are often “very careful” in the first couple of weeks after such incidents, they tend to forget about it after a few months.

An SA Tours spokesperson advised travellers: “Do not follow strangers or trust people who offer you propositions that sound too good to be true … Be alert, be smart and be careful.”