A GANG of Chinese nationals believed to be involved in kidnappings-for-ransom, illegal recruitment, and gun trafficking in Metro Manila was smashed by combined agents of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) during an anti-crime raid in Pasay City on Wednesday (August 31, 2022), the Journal Group learned.

PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee said that eight members of the organized crime ring were arrested by members of the CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit (NCRFU) headed by Colonel Hansel M. Marantan inside two townhouses in Pasay City at 10:30 p.m. last Wednesday.

“This is part of our stepped-up campaign against loose firearms, organized crime groups, and wanted persons under our flagship projects Oplan: Paglalansag Omega, Oplan: OLEA, and Oplan: Salikop, as ordered by PNP chief, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr.,” said the PNP-CIDG director.

In coordination with other law enforcement agencies, the CIDG-NCRFU is looking into the possible involvement of the suspects in previous kidnapping-for-ransom cases involving Chinese POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) or online casino workers in the metropolis and its nearby regions.

A major “headache” of the police is the presence of armed Chinese nationals abducting their compatriots and demanding huge ransoms for their safe release. In many cases, the kidnappers torture their captives and send their “torture video” to their families abroad to force them to pay their ransom demand thru WeChat.

The arrested Chinese nationals were identified as Lin Gui, 30; Wan Youchao, 29; Reng Gong Hai, 32; Ling Yi Han, 24; Lin Shuang Feng, 21; Maico Yang alias “Yang Tong”, 27; Eden Hao alias “Hao Yifei”, 26; and Toby Hou alias “Hou Gong Quiang”, 31.

The first five suspects are all jobless, while the three are said to be online sellers.

Recovered during the operation were one M4 Carbine caliber 5.56mm automatic rifle with a sniper scope and silencer, a Glock 19 cal. 9mm semi-automatic pistol, two M-16 magazines with 61 live ammunition, two 9mm magazines with 25 bullets, a pair of handcuffs with a key, a taser, a rifle case, eight Android phones, and an iPod.

Also confiscated by the CIDG-NCR from the suspects were the boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill. The CIDG-NCRFU is already checking the serial numbers of the recovered firearms with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office to determine their real owners.

According to Marantan, they conducted the operation with the support of the NCRPO Regional Intelligence Unit, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), and the Southern Police District (SPD) under Col. Kirby John B. Kraft under the supervision of NCRPO Chief Brig. Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo.

“We conducted the sting amid information given to us by an informant regarding a group of Chinese nationals engaged in the illegal gun trafficking and kidnapping of their compatriots,” the official said.

Five of the suspects were arrested while conspiring with each other to sell the guns to a poseur, while the three were arrested for trying to prevent the arrest of their fellows by blocking the driveway of their apartment unit using their car and locking the doors.

When finally opened by the officers, the suspects’ unit yielded a cal. .45 pistol with three magazines containing 12 live ammunition, a holster, assorted Chinese ATM cards, two laptop computers, seven Android phones, and 25 pieces of assorted Security Token Activation and Use Banking Services.

The arrested suspects are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013, RA 8484 or the Access Devices Regulations Act of 1998 and Presidential Decree 1829 or obstruction of justice.

All were apprised of their constitutional rights with the help of a Chinese interpreter. All are now being held at the CIDG-NCRFU lock-up facility in Camp Crame.