5 Vietnamese nabbed in Makati for alleged extortion

Map of Makati City

MANILA, Philippines — Five Vietnamese were arrested in Makati City on Tuesday morning for allegedly extorting money from another Vietnamese, the Southern Police District (SPD) said.

Reports from the SPD said an entrapment operation was conducted by the Makati City Police Station inside a village in Barangay Bel-Air after the victim said the five suspects held him captive last December 22 inside a restaurant in Barangay San Antonio.

The arrested suspects were identified by the SPD as Thai Huy Tuan, 28; Phan Huu Dat, 25; Nguyen Ly Huynh, 30; Phan Van Tranh, 28; and Tran Trung Tuyen, 34.

The victim said he was only released after he gave the suspects P250,000. The suspects then threatened the victim that he and his family will be kidnapped if they are not paid P100,000 more.

After receiving the information, operatives hatched the entrapment where Makati police officers inside a private vehicle waited for the victim to hand over the money to the suspects.  Once the money was in the hands of the suspects, arrests were made, the SPD said.

“On December 26, 2022, complainant received a call and text messages from the suspects extorting ₱100,000.00 and threatened the victim that if he will not pay, he and his family will be kidnapped,” the SPD said.

“Acting on the said report an entrapment operation was initiated […] Complainant proceeded at the said place onboard a private car, and was tailed by the IDMS (Investigation and Detective Management Section) personnel onboard a private vehicle and was backed-up by mobile car K-02 at a distance,” it added.

Seized from the suspects were the marked cash and two butcher knives. The arrested suspects were then brought to the Makati City Police Station. Complaints for robbery extortion are now being readied for filing against them, police said.

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/MUF