Chinese trader abducted; two compatriots tagged

MANILA, Philippines–A Chinese businessman was taken by his two Chinese friends in Makati City on Friday night in what the police said was a kidnap-for-ransom case.

Based on an initial police report, 37-year-old Jiangwy Wy—also known as Owen Wu—a Chinese national who has been residing in the country for some time, was forcibly grabbed by two still unidentified Chinese-looking men in front of the Makati Executive Tower 1 condominium building on Dela Rosa Street in Barangay (village) Pio del Pilar. The victim was herded into a white Ford Focus, according to a witness.

The incident was reported to authorities over the weekend by Wy’s girlfriend, Jennifer Wang.

Wang told investigators that she and Wy had just arrived at their unit at the condominium building after having dinner around 10 p.m. when he told her that he needed to meet a friend.

Case investigator PO3 Elberto Rojas said in his report that 30 minutes after Wy left, his girlfriend decided to call him on his cell phone.

According to her, as they were talking on the phone, a male voice speaking in Chinese interrupted their conversation. She said that she did not understand what the man was saying because the connection was bad and Wy hung up.

“She tried calling her boyfriend again but was not able to contact him anymore,” Rojas added.

After a few minutes, Wang said she was told by one of the condo’s security guards, Bernardito Montiano, that her boyfriend had just been kidnapped.

In his testimony to  authorities, Montiano said that he saw Wy conversing with two other Chinese-looking men outside the condominium building when they grabbed the victim and forced him inside their vehicle, a white Ford Focus with plate number ZBD 961. The vehicle then sped off toward Chino Roces Avenue.

Rojas said they have already forwarded the vehicle’s license plate to the Land Transportation Office to check the identity of the owner.

Investigators noted that the abduction may have something to do with what Wy told his girlfriend—that he had lent money to another Chinese friend and was pressuring him to turn over his car as loan collateral.

On Monday, Makati Police criminal investigation division head Chief Insp. Shirley Bao said that the kidnappers had contacted Wy’s family and issued demands for his release. She did not give more details.

“In these instances, we forward the case to the Anti-Kidnapping Group of the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, because they have the technical capability to trace the suspects,” Bao added.