Six Chinese nationals were arrested by police allegedly after abducting a compatriot who managed to shout for help from a resort in Calamba, Laguna, where he was being held Saturday night.
Police identified the suspects as Xin Wang, 30, a native of Shen Xi, China; Sun Qing Ji, 26; Hong Zhong Ah, 38; Yang Ben, 24; Zhao Da Hai, 40; and Si Cuan, 42, all natives Fujian, China.
Meanwhile, the victim, a 30-year-old man from Shanghai, China and billeted in Greenbelt, Makati City, who was abducted for four days, appealed to the media to hide his identity for his security.
The victim allegedly had debt to the suspects who are alleged members of a Chinese loan shark syndicate targeting foreign tourists in the Philippines.
An initial report from Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO) said the victim was kidnapped by the suspects in Makati City on Wednesday, March 27. He was then brought to a secluded resort in Purok 1, Barangay Pansol.
Elements of Laguna Police Intelligence Branch (IB) immediately conducted a rescue operation after receiving a call from a concerned citizen who heard the cry for help of the victim.
The rescue operation resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of the kidnap victim around 11 p.m. Saturday.
According to the police, the loan shark syndicates would lend money to an unsuspecting tourist and encourage him/her to play casino.
If the victim wins, the suspects would make threats and get the prize. However, if the victim loses, the suspects would force him/her to pay them with an added interest.
If the victim fails to return the money, sh/he would be abducted by the suspects. In turn, the suspects would ask the family or relatives of the victim to pay them a ransom through bank or wire transfer.
The Laguna Police believes that the Chinese suspects had victimized more tourists who refuse to file charges in fear of retaliation from the syndicate.
The police appealed to other victims of the Chinese loan shark syndicate to surface and file raps against the apprehended suspects.
The six suspects were brought to Calamba police detention facility. (Martin A. Sadongdong)