THE Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) is looking into some suspected ‘kidnap-me’ cases involving Chinese nationals, the Journal Group learned.

Incidents of Chinese nationals faking their kidnappings to extract huge amounts of money from their families abroad is not new in The Philippines as the PNP-AKG had established many years back.

From January to September 2015, the PNP-AKG said it investigated10 ‘kidnap-me’ schemes involving seven Filipinos, two Koreans and two British nationals.

In one incident that year, a British national rescued by PNP-AKG agents in Bulacan confessed he faked his abduction to force his family in London to pay ransom for his release.

There was also the case of a 40-year-old woman who claimed to have been kidnapped in La Union to get P5 million from her common-law wife.

The woman was found by PNP-AKG operatives alone in a hotel in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

There was also the case of a Chinese national rescued in Manila in 2019 by the PNP-AKG who turned out to have been talking with his abductors, all believed to be members of a casino loan shark syndicate, hours before he was seized.

The victim turned out to have owed his ‘kidnappers’ some P500,000 and was forced to call his father from China to deposit the money. The investigation showed that the man incurred a huge debt while playing in a casino.

So far this year, the PNP-AKG is thoroughly investigating a similar case in coordination with the Chinese Embassy.

However, lack of Chinese interpreters have been a problem by the PNP-AKG prompting them to renew their request for the Chinese Embassy to send them interpreters each time they interview a suspected kidnapping victim from Mainland China.

The PNP-AKG leadership has long batted for a law that will penalize those who will be involved in ‘kidnap-me’ cases in the country.

Officials said that harsh penalties should be imposed on anybody who ‘fakes’ or stage-managed his/her own kidnapping in order to extract money from his/her family or other relatives and friends.

Last January 20, the PNP-AKG headed by Colonel Elmer E. Ragay rescued a 29-year old male Chinese national who claimed he was kidnapped and tortured by his four compatriots.

The victim called up his family in China and told them to raise a ransom of 60,000 Yuan (P484,000).

In a report to PNP chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, the official said that the victim was rescued in SM Aura, Global City, Taguig where two of his kidnappers–a male and a female–were also arrested and are now undergoing thorough investigation.

Col. Ragay said that prior to the rescue operation, the Chinese Consulate in Makati City sent them a letter-complaint regarding the case which is the latest involving Chinese nationals being kidnapped-for-ransom by their fellows from Mainland China.

An investigation showed that the victim (whose name was withheld) was abducted at around 2:30 a.m. last January 20 by four armed suspects who dragged him into their getaway Sports Utility Vehicle.

After being brought to the kidnappers’ hideout, the victim was reportedly tortured by the suspects who later contacted his family in China and threatened to kill their captive if they did not pay their 60,000 Yuan ransom demand.

A video was also sent to the victim’s family showing him being tortured.

Col. Ragay said that after seeing the supposed ‘torture video,’ the victim’s family was able to pay a total of 49,000 RMB or around P395,000 to the kidnappers.

The family later sought the help of the Chinese Embassy who in turn reported the alleged kidnapping-for-ransom case to the PNP-AKG.

During negotiations, the kidnappers agreed to release the victim upon payment of the remaining 11,000 Yuan. However, the suspects’ location was identified thru a video call they made triggering the launching of the rescue operation.

Col. Ragay said that following a coordination with the SM Aura management, members of the PNP-AKG Luzon Field Unit led by Colonel Jeff E. Fanged were able to rescue the victim and capture two of the kidnappers who were found in possession of two Okada casino membership cards and two Melco membership cards from the City of Dreams casino.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon