FOUR Asian nationals accused of involvement in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of a Filipino-Chinese businessman in Quezon City have been arrested and charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) by the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG), the Journal Group learned Saturday.

The suspects who are now being held at the PNP-AKG lock-up facility in Camp Crame were found to be involved in the kidnapping of the victim whose body they dumped in a grassy area in Barangay Tres Cruses in Tanza, Cavite, a report to PNP Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said.

The principal accused is three ruthless male Chinese nationals, while the 4th is a Vietnamese woman who collected the ransom money deposited to her bank account by the family of the victim, identified as Mario Sy Uy.

An investigation showed that on Wednesday evening, a group of students undergoing the Probationary Officers Training Course of the Philippine Army Reserve Command discovered the body of the victim covered with a brown blanket at the grassy area of Saddle and Club Leisure Park in Bgy. Tres Cruses.

The victim, described as more or less 30-40 years old and about 5’6″ inches in height, was wearing a “maong” pants but without an upper garment when found. His face was covered with duct tape, and a black jacket was looped around his neck. According to Cavite Police Provincial Office (CPPO) Director Col. Christopher F. Olazo, the victim had severe wounds on his hand and neck.

PNP-AKG Director Brigadier Gen. Rodolfo D. Castil Jr. said that prior to the discovery of the victim’s body, they have already started an investigation into a complaint filed by the man’s family.

The kidnappers were found to have recorded on video the torture of the victim, whose fingers were cut off by one of the suspects to serve as a strong warning to his family that they should immediately heed their ransom demand.

The official said that it appears that the kidnappers tortured and killed the victim before throwing his body in Cavite last Wednesday morning despite demanding ransom money from his family.

According to Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Executive Director Gilbert DC Cruz, the PNP-AKG sought the assistance of the PAOCC and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) in collecting pertinent data and other information that would help in the identification and location of the possible suspects.

Last Thursday, the PNP-AKG launched a massive operation against the suspects. The 1st operation conducted by the PNP-AKG with the support of the Parañaque City Police Station led to the arrest of three Chinese nationals after they conspired to withdraw the ransom money deposited in their bank account inside a local bank.

The suspects were identified as 30-year Bei Huimin, a resident of a condominium in Pasay City; Jielong Shen, 26, with an unknown address; and Sun Xiaohui,26, a resident of a village in Moonwalk, Parañaque City.

A 4th suspect was identified as Hong Puc Lee, a 33-year-old female Vietnamese national residing at Diliman, Quezon City was arrested on the same day in Uptown Mall in BGC, Taguig City.

The suspect is an “online seller” said to be working as an “associate manager” of a known Business Processing Office (BPO) in Taguig City.

It turned out that the P560,000 ransom money given by the victim’s family was deposited in Hong Puc Lee’s BPI account last March 20. An investigation showed she withdrew the same amount two days later and delivered it to another Vietnamese national who is still being sought for questioning by the PNP-AKG.

Members of the PNP-AKG Intelligence Search and Analysis Division led by Col. Frederick Obar conducted the operation in Uptown Mall, which led to the arrest of the suspect as she met an undercover officer who offered to buy a cellphone she was selling online.

“I commend the untiring efforts and unwavering dedication of AKG personnel and Parañaque City Police Station on their intensified operation resulting [in] the arrest of the perpetrators of this kidnapping-for-ransom incident. The arrest of these individuals is an important step forward in our efforts to dismantle their group and protect our communities. Rest assured that justice will spring out, and we will get to the bottom of this,” Castil said.

The PNP-AKG director also expressed his gratitude to the PAOCC and the CICC for helping them make their investigation faster and more efficient through the release of valuable information that led to the identification and arrest of the suspects.