Police have arrested five foreigners tagged as responsible in the kidnapping of two Chinese workers of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation company during a raid in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.
Police Col. Jonnel Estomo, director of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group, said the two Chinese victims have paid almost 300,000 Renminbi for their release but the suspects were still demanding for more.
Estomo identified the kidnap victims as Wang Zhe and Zhang Jia who both work at the Di Wang Online Gaming in McKinley Hill in Fort Bonifacio.
Estomo said the kidnapping stemmed from the decision of the two victims to leave the company on Sept. 16.
“They left the company when they realized that they were working in online gaming which is illegal in China,” said Estomo.
The duo decided to process their travel documents at the Chinese Embassy but later decided to tap a fixer to facilitate their release.
“When they were about to get there documents from the fixers near 101 Hotel, Pasay City, they were abducted and that they were kept captive and handcuffed at the stated place by the Chinese suspects, while demanding ransom money for their safe release,” said Estomo.
He identified the kidnapping suspects as Zou Jian Cong, 26; Tang Yu Yang, 41; Bruce Gao Zhan, 26; Chen Xing Ding, 49; and Wang Jian Bo, who were collared based on the request for assistance by a friend of the victims.
PNP-AKG spokesman Police Lt. Col. Elmer Cereno said three Filipinos were also arrested for preventing policemen from rescuing the victims.
They were identified as utility worker Jose Marlito and security officers Pepe Mengullo and Welson Borlado.
“The interpreter of the company, Brenda Doctor Ruvic, was recommended for preliminary investigation,” according to Cereno.
The Chinese suspects were charged with kidnapping for ransom with serious illegal detention while obstruction of justice raps were slapped against the three Filipinos.
The number of casino-related kidnappings has ballooned to more than 60 since 2017 with more than 100 victims, almost all of them are Chinese. (Aaron Recuenco)