MANILA, Philippines — The police have arrested three Chinese men who were allegedly holding their compatriot captive in exchange for P1 million, the same amount they reportedly lent him to gamble at a casino in Parañaque City.
Huang Ya Jian, Liang Bin and Li Wei were taken into custody on Saturday by operatives of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) who also rescued the 20-year-old Chinese victim being held inside his room at a posh hotel. According to PNP-AKG chief Police Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, the victim was freed after the manager of the hotel in Parañaque City learned of the incident from the victim’s friend.
Estomo said that when the PNP-AKG operatives arrived at the hotel room, the occupants refused to open the door which had to be unlocked by the hotel manager using his service key.
“Inside, they (operatives) saw four male Chinese sitting at the receiving area. Once the Chinese knew that they were PNP-AKG operatives, the victim pointed out the three Chinese men responsible for his kidnapping,” he added.
Suspects unarmed
The police did not find any firearms on the suspects who yielded P90,000 in cash, cell phones and travel documents.
According to the victim, he was playing at the hotel casino on Feb. 21 when the three Chinese men approached him and offered to lend him P1 million worth of chips. He claimed that when he lost half of the money, he returned the remainder but was taken, with his friend, by the suspects to a VIP room where they demanded full payment of the P1-million loan.
The victim said that he borrowed 71,428 RMB (approximately P517,000) from his friend and sent the money to the suspects’ account. But he was not released and was instead ordered by the suspects to rent a room at the hotel where he was detained. His friend, however, was allowed to go out and buy food.
While the victim was alone with the suspects, an elderly Chinese man came and threatened to harm him unless he came up with a P1-million ransom. Desperate, he sent an additional 3,000 RMB (approximately P21,700) to the account of a certain Yu Xi by money transfer. When he was still not released, he texted his friend, who was still out, and asked him to call the police.
The suspects remain in the custody of the PNP-AKG pending the filing of criminal charges against them.