NBI foils kidnapping of Filipino-Chinese businesswoman

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A Filipino-Chinese casino financier was rescued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from four suspected kidnappers who tried to abduct her before dawn today in Manila.

The NBI said that its agents acted based on an intelligence report that a kidnap-for-ransom group headed by certain "Gerald" was planning to abduct Flor Ty, a casino financier at a hotel casino in Manila.

A surveillance operation was conducted on the group's movements, which ended in a shootout between the suspects and the NBI agents at around 3:00 a.m. when the victim was to be seized while on her way home.

The victim was not hurt in the incident, the NBI said, however, adding that one of the suspects was wounded in the incident and was brought to a hospital for medical treatment, while the three others were arrested.

Charges for attempted kidnapping, frustrated homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and violation of the Commission on Elections' gun ban were readied against the suspects before the Manila City Prosecutor's Office, the NBI said.