2 Chinese nat’ls nabbed for indiscriminate firing in Fontana
TWO Chinese nationals and their Filipino bodyguard accused of involvement in indiscriminate firing inside a restaurant in Fontana Resort in Angeles City on Tuesday were arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) during a hot pursuit operation, PNP-CIDG director, Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee said.
Lao Hei and Yao Lin, both 28-year-old Chinese nationals renting units inside Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, and their Filipino bodyguard are now facing criminal charges for illegal discharge of firearm, alarm and scandal, physical injuries, and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearm and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013, the PNP-CIDG director told PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.
Lee said that the three were arrested by members of the CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 under Col. Joshua Alejandro inside Koregon Villas located in Mabalacat City in Pampanga at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday.
The CIDG Angeles City Field Unit, joined by operatives from the CIDG Pampanga PFU and the Mabalacat City Police Station went after the suspects after getting a report regarding the shooting inside the 24HR Restaurant located at Edinburgh 3 located inside the Fontana Leisure Park and Casino around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Lee said that an investigation by his men showed that the two Chinese nationals and their Filipino bodyguard arrived at the restaurant where they had a drinking spree.
After getting drunk, one of the two foreigners, later identified as Lao Hei, took the bodyguard’s firearm and fired it indiscriminately on the ground. Pieces of tiles shattered by the bullets fired by the suspect hit a restaurant crew who was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
After the incident, the trio immediately fled on board two SUVs (sports utility vehicles). Lee said that the restaurant manager reported the incident to Clark authorities, which immediately sought the assistance of the local police and the CIDG in arresting the suspects.
The PNP-CIDG director said that a hot pursuit operation resulted in the arrest of the suspects in the said village in Mabalacat City which was found to be being rented by Yang Lin.
Lao Hei was found to be billeted at Times Building in Park View Village, Clark Freeport Zone while the bodyguard is a resident of Sampaloc, Manila who claimed to be a “Protective Agent”.
Lee said that CCTV (closed-circuit television) camera footage in the area helped his men track down the suspects. Confiscated were one Armscor caliber .45 semi-automatic pistol with two magazines containing 32 live ammunition, one 9mm pistol with two magazines loaded with 22 bullets; and one cal. .45 Colt pistol with a magazine containing seven live ammunition.
The records of the confiscated firearms are now being checked by the CIDG with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office.
All three suspects are being held at the CIDG Angeles CFU lock-up facility.
