6 Chinese, Taiwanese nationals arrested for alleged kidnapping

The PNP anti-kidnapping group present to media in Camp Crame the six Chinese nationals and a Taiwanese national arrested by the PNP aviation security group for alleged kidnapping and illegal detention of fellow Chinese nationals working in different POGOs in the country. INQUIRER photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines – Operatives of the Philippine National Police – Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) have arrested six Chinese nationals and a Taiwanese for allegedly kidnapping three Chinese nationals in Pasay City.

Police Col. Jonnel Estomo, acting director of the PNP-AKG, identified on Tuesday the Chinese suspects as Chen Xin, Liu Chen, Yang Shuwen, Wei Chong, Zhang Lee, and Qi Long, while the Taiwanese national was identified as Yu Jhong Ruie.

In a report from PNP-AKG, Estomo said victim Xu Jinming arrived in the Philippines on July 16, while other victims Xu Huanbo and Ou Kailang arrived in the country on July 28. He said the victims were recruited from China to work in an online gaming company in the Philippines with a monthly salary of 10,000 to 20,000 Chinese Yuan and with two days off from work.

But the victims instead received only 6,000 Chinese Yuan on September 15, and said they worked for 12 to 14 hours a day and rendered six days of work a week.

Estomo said the victims decided to report the company to the Chinese Embassy and met four of the suspects, Qi Long, Yang Shuwen, Wei Chong, and Zhang Lee, who promised they can help the victims in processing their travel documents in going back to China.

The victims paid 5,400 Chinese Yuan, or 1,800 Chinese Yuan per travel document, to the suspects with the agreement that the alleged abductors will deliver the documents in three to five days.

On September 21, Yang Shuwen called the victims and told them to meet him at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 at about 6 p.m. for their travel documents.

At about 6:23 p.m. on that day, other companions of Yang Shuwen alighted from a white Toyota van parked nearby and allegedly grabbed the victims and dragged them inside the vehicle. The incident was then noticed by duty police officers at the Terminal 3 and relayed the information to the PNP-AKG.

Estomo said a case of kidnapping for ransom with serious illegal detention was filed against the suspects on Monday./jpv