2 armed Chinese nabbed
For ‘abducting’ 3 Chinese POGO workers
TWO armed Chinese nationals accused of kidnapping three of their compatriots in Parañaque City and demanding huge ransom for their safe release were arrested by agents of the Meycayayan City Police Station in Bulacan last Friday, officials said Monday.
The arrest of the two suspects, whose names were temporarily withheld, came after one of their captives identified only as “Bhon” managed to escape from captivity by jumping from the rooftop of a small building in Meycauayan City and landing in an area surrounded by banana trees.
The victim, who sustained body injuries as a result of his fall, was rescued by some construction workers in the area who later sought the help of security officers of Metrogate Complex in contacting the local police, said Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) director, Brigadier General Cosme A. Abrenica.
The official said that in coordination with his office, the Meycauayan City police launched an operation at the kidnappers’ safehouse located in Jemuel Street at the Metrogate Complex in Barangay Pandayan around 4 p.m. last Friday.
The operation resulted in the safe rescue of the two other kidnapping victims and the arrest of the suspects.
Abrenica said police investigation showed that the victims, who were working for a Philippine offshore gaming operation or POGO company in Parañaque City, were abducted by the suspects who demanded US$10,000 for their freedom.
The official said that the kidnappers also sent pictures and videos of the blindfolded victims while in handcuffs to their families to compel them into heeding the ransom demand.
“We investigated this case after the Meycauayan City police sought our assistance,” said the PNP-AKG director.
The arrested suspects were found armed with a semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing five live ammunition. Police are still investigating how the two Chinese nationals acquired the illegal gun.
“The arrest of these suspects is a proof of the dedication and steadfastness in our sworn duties in the PNP. We will continue to double our efforts to apprehend the cohorts of these suspects, put an end to this inhumane practice and bring justice to the victims and their families,” said Abrenica.
On Sunday, cases of kidnapping-for-ransom and serious illegal detention and violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013, were recommended by the PNP-AKG against the accused before the Department of Justice.
The two suspects are now being held at the PNP-AKG lockup facility in Camp Crame.
