PNP nabs 3 Chinese for alleged kidnapping of fellow national

The three Chinese nationals arrested by the PNP-AKG on Monday stand in a row in preparation for their mugshot inside the unit’s office at Camp Crame. The suspects were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a fellow Chinese over a debt the victim used in a casino. (Photo from PNP-AKG)

MANILA, Philippines — Operatives of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) have arrested three Chinese nationals after allegedly kidnapping a fellow Chinese in Parañaque City over a debt the victim spent in a casino.

Police Col. Jonnel Estomo, acting director of the PNP-AKG, identified the 23-year-old victim as Zheng Jin Song, who is in the country as a tourist, and the suspects as Wu Kun, 26; Ling Yanqing, 35; and Xia Yugui, 34.

Estomo said in a press statement Thursday that the victim was playing baccarat, a card game, in a casino when the suspects approached him and invited him to a VIP room at about 11:00 a.m. on Monday.

At about 4 p.m., the victim borrowed P203,760 from the suspects so he can continue playing the game, but with the condition that he will pay the suspects 20 percent for every winning bet.

But when the victim lost all the borrowed money in the game, the suspects allegedly brought and detained him in a room of a residential building in Barangay Tambo.

According to Estomo, the victim later paid the suspects 28,300 Chinese Yuan or around P206,000 and managed to call a friend and informed him of the incident.

Estomo said the alleged kidnapping was reported to the PNP-AKG at about 11 p.m. on the same day by the security manager of the casino who learned of the victim’s ordeal, prompting officers of the PNP-AKG to launch an operation that led to the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the suspects.

A case of kidnapping for ransom with serious illegal detention was filed against the suspects on Tuesday. /jpv

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