AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) have fanned out in different parts of the country to capture remaining members of a heavily-armed Chinese kidnapping-for-ransom (KFR) gang who have gained notoriety for abducting, torturing, and even sexually abusing their victims who all happened to be Asian nationals too in Metro Manila, the Journal Group learned on Wednesday.

“We are tracking down some fellows of the three armed Chinese nationals who were killed in a gun battle with combined operatives of the PNP-AKG and the Southern Police District (SPD) inside their safe house in Parañaque City last February 27,” said PNP-AKG director, Brigadier General Rudolph B. Dimas.

In a report to PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos, the official said that 2 victims of the kidnapping-for-ransom group – 1 Chinese and the other a Taiwanese woman were each found in an improvised steel cage inside the kidnappers’ safe house along Vicente Recto Street in Bgy. BF Homes in Parañaque City around 5:50 p.m. last Sunday.

Combined operatives of the PNP-AKG and the Parañaque and Pasay City Police Stations raided the kidnappers’ hideout triggering a gunfight that left the 3 suspects dead, their identities still being verified as of press time.

Brig. Gen. Dimas said that one of the rescued victims identified as 33-year-old Taiwanese national Li You-Ci turned out to be an international fugitive wanted in her own country for fraud.

The female Taiwanese national was found to be the subject of a warrant of arrest issued by the Taiwan Kinmen District Prosecutors Office.

PNP-AKG and Bureau of Immigration agents went to the PNP-AKG lock-up facility in Camp Crame and served the warrant for her arrest. “We will turn her over to the (Bureau of Immigration) BI for deportation proceedings as soon as we have completed our investigation of the case,” said Dimas.

The official said that 2 Filipino cohorts of the 3 slain Chinese nationals identified as Lorriel Lozano and Eunice Zarate were referred for inquest proceedings before Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Jeanette Dacpano of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The suspects are believed to be among the rogue Filipinos hired by the Chinese kidnappers to abduct their prey, mostly Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) workers or casino players in Metro Manila. Once the victims are seized, they are taken into the kidnappers’ safe house where they are tortured in front of a video camera, the “torture video” is sent to the victims’ families abroad in order to force them to pay huge amounts of ransom thru We Chat.

“We will also be filing criminal charges against the remaining cohorts of the suspects before the DOJ,” said the PNP-AKG director as he assured the public that the kidnapping-for-ransom case against the suspects would prosper despite the expected deportation of Li.

The kidnappers are also known to be posing as law enforcement agents, wearing t-shirts and jackets with (National Bureau of Investigation) “NBI” or (Philippine National Police) PNP markings each time they seize their prey in broad daylight in Metro Manila.

On Sunday, members of the Southern Police District (SPD) under Brig. Gen. Jimili L. Macaraeg and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) joined the PNP-AKG in storming the kidnappers’ hideout in BF Homes.

The raid was conducted following the arrest of the 32-year-old Lozano who spilled the beans on the whereabouts of his Chinese bosses, said Dimas.

The raid led to the rescue of Li and Chinese national Zhou Xiang Qin, 42, and the death of the 3 suspects following a firefight with officers.

All 3 were taken to the Medical Center Parañaque where an attending physician declared them dead upon arrival.

Recovered from the possession of the slain suspects were one 12-gauge shotgun, 1 caliber .45 Taurus pistol, 1 cal. 9mm semi-automatic pistol without serial number; 1 cal. 9mm Glock pistol, 3 rifle butts, 5 M-16 magazines, 1 air gun, assorted live ammunition and spent cartridges, 1 airsoft pistol with magazine, and 2 short firearm grips.

Also discovered inside their safe house were assorted AFP uniforms, two handheld radios with chargers; two baseball bats; a case with gun cleaning parts; six shovels; 10 assorted AFP and PNP stickers; 40 assorted Land Transportation Office (LTO) license plates; 9 LTO conduction stickers; three pairs of combat shoes; 12 black AFP bull caps; four dry-fit uniforms with NBI markings; a weighing scale; 2 airsoft magazines; 1 Chief of PNP Badge, and 5 gun magazines.

The PNP-AKG also seized the kidnappers’ motorcycle and a black Toyota Innova.

Brig. Gen. Dimas said they also discovered some “torture videos” made by the kidnappers to force their victims’ families to pay the ransom.

“One video showed the slain suspects repeatedly hitting the male Chinese with a baseball bat in the body. Another showed the Taiwanese woman being tortured inside her cage,” he said.

The official said there were indications that a number of Asian nationals who were previously reported to have been kidnapped in Metro Manila and released after being forced to pay ransom were taken to the raided BF Homes hideout.

“It appears that the location is one but the same based on the type and color of the floor as well as other parts of the house seen in previous torture videos,” he said. The previous victims include Chinese and Vietnamese nationals.

Outgoing National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. said the raid was part of the “whole-of PNP approach” in fighting criminality as well as their cooperation with their foreign counterparts.

“We are strengthening our coordination with our Chinese counterparts. Be assured that regardless of the nationality of both the victims and the perpetrators, this will not be tolerated here in our country,” he said.

Taiwan Police Attaché in Manila Charlie Wu also expressed his appreciation to the PNP and the AFP for their latest anti-kidnapping effort.

“I appreciate the service which the PNP and AFP have provided to our Taiwanese victim, Ms. LI. It was a professional and effective joint operation against the criminal syndicate of kidnapping for ransom,” he said.

“Our Taiwan Police has established a communication channel via Police Attaché to facilitate investigative activities undertaken by our Filipino counterparts since 2004. As long as there is a concern involving Taiwan or Taiwanese nationals, we will continue to provide our assistance to ensure that both countries are protected from the influence of transnational crime,” Wu said.