BY AARON RECUENCO
Police have rescued two foreign workers of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) who were kidnapped by their countrymen in two separate operations in Parañaque and Pasay cities.
Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, director of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), said the operations resulted in the arrest of six Chinese POGO employees and their alleged Filipino cohorts.
He identified those who were rescued as Le Chen who was rescued in Parañaque City and Den Lingyi who was rescued in Pasay City.
Estomo said the operation stemmed from the request for assistance of Le’s live-in partner who said that the victim did not go home anymore after being fetched by the suspects for interview to work in POGO based in Parañaque City.
The victim’s live-in partner then received a text message that Le would be sold to another POGO company if she fails to pay P84,000 in exchange for his freedom.
“He was forced to work in an online gambling and the contract between them was spurious per se and illegal from then on he was detained against his will and demanded money for the victim’s safe release, if failed to do so, the victim will be sold to another company,” said Estomo.
At around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, AKG operatives raided a house in Parañaque City and resulted in the rescue of Le.
Those arrested were identified as Gao Tong Tong, Tian Yu, Liang Kai, Cheng Yong Qing, Zhang Bo Xu, Wamg Xuan and Edgar Ortiz.
AKG operatives also launched another operation against the suspect’s cohorts in Pasay City and rescued Den. No suspects were arrested in the area.
Appropriate charges are now being readied against the suspects. (Aaron Recuenco)
