BY JEFFREY DAMICOG
Four Chinese nationals and two Filipinos were arrested by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents for detaining Chinese nationals with debts, officials announced Friday.
NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor said the six suspects were arrested last Tuesday in a house in Barangay Talon Dos in Las Pinas City during an operation launched by the NBI’s Counter-Terrorism Division (CTD).
The NBI chief said all six suspects are now detained at the NBI Detention Facility and face charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
Distor identified the arrested Chinese as Jiang Zhi Chao, Han Yong, Shi Qi, and Zhao Jian Wei and the Filipinos as Christopher Belarmino, and Darnel Volante.
During the operation, NBI agents found a Chinese who claimed being detained since Oct. 20. NBI agents also seized a .40-caliber Taurus pistol, a Glock 22 handgun, a pair of steel handcuffs, and assorted identification cards and documents.
Distor said the NBI-CTD acted on complaint of a Chinese victim who was freed last Monday, Oct. 26, after paying ransom to the suspects.
Meanwhile, the rescued Chinese told the NBI that he worked in an online gambling firm at the Wanhe Building in Las Pinas City but wanted to return to China since he was not being properly paid.
“When he manifested his intention to resign, his boss and its assistant named PANG ZI and LIANG ZI asked him to give first P240,000.00 before they will give him his passport and be allowed to go home in China,” the NBI said in a statement.
When he was not able to produce the money, the complainant was tied inside a car where he was beaten up. He was then taken to the house where he was also beaten up.
“He was told that he will stay in the house until the ransom is paid,” the NBI said. (Jeffrey Damicog)
