A Chinese man, believed to be an offshore gambling operator, was recently kidnapped in Parañaque, Metro Manila, by six men disguised as police officers.
According to the Philippine World Daily, a Chinese man, believed to be an offshore gambling operator, was recently kidnapped in Parañaque, Metro Manila, by six men disguised as police officers.
Surveillance footage shows the six armed kidnappers arriving at the victim's rental house in a van. They were wearing light blue short-sleeved shirts with "police" written on them and dark pants. After getting out of the van, they quickly disarmed two bodyguards.
Minutes later, the kidnappers escorted the victim out of the house and into the van, with his hands cuffed behind his back.
The assistant chief of the Parañaque City Police, Hong Gustiya, revealed: "The victim was taken onto a Toyota Hiace. The armed criminals entered the villa area at 3:20 PM and left at 3:50 PM, with the whole operation lasting about 30 minutes."
Hong Gustiya said: "The security at Gate 1 of the villa area stated that these armed men claimed to be police officers here to execute an arrest warrant for the victim. They impersonated police officers to enter the villa area without obstruction."
The victim's fate is currently unknown.
The investigation revealed that one of the suspects had previously worked as a security guard in the community. A witness reported seeing this person talking with the victim's two bodyguards near the house a few days before the incident.
Hong Gustiya stated: "The investigation found them to be accomplices, so we have arrested them." The victim's two bodyguards, along with seven other suspects still at large, will face kidnapping charges.
The two bodyguards refused to comment, stating they wanted to see their lawyer first.
The police investigation also found that the victim is a businessman, believed to be the owner of an offshore gambling company in Parañaque City.
The police have not yet identified the mastermind behind the kidnapping, and the kidnappers have not made any ransom demands.
Hong Gustiya said: "Kidnappings involving Chinese citizens often involve abducting compatriots who fail to repay debts and demanding ransom from the victim's family, and these cases are also related to POGO."
