MANILA —  The "resurgence" of kidnap-for-ransom cases in the Philippines could hurt the nation's economy, an anti-crime advocacy group warned Monday.

The Philippine National Police in recent months recorded scores of kidnapping cases, some of which involved Chinese nationals as victims. 

Recently, the country was gripped by the kidnapping and murder of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que, who was found dead in Rodriguez, Rizal. 

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While kidnappings are a "personal tragedy" for the victims, they are also a "direct blow [to] our economic future," Arsenio Evangelista, president of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, told ANC.

Evangelista said that "when peace and order is down, there will be a capital flight amongst the businessmen."

Capital flight refers to the phenomenon in which large amounts of money are sent out of a country because of fears about its economy.

He also pointed out that because the Philippines is a tourist-driven country, the Marcos administration should win "back the trust and confidence" of foreigners.

Early this month, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines issued an advisory for Chinese citizens in the country over what it called "unstable public security."

The embassy claimed that Chinese citizens and businesses have been "frequently interrogated and harassed" by Philippine authorities, adding that security risks faced by Chinese nationals have also increased.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week ordered the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the kidnapping of steel magnate Que. 

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a Palace briefing vowed that the government will act on the case.

Filipino-Chinese business leaders have expressed concern over the kidnappings and called for swift justice for Que and his driver.

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—with reports from Pia Gutierrez and Rose Carmelle Lacuata, ABS-CBN News

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