Kidnap 'victim' plays dead

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, Philippines – Five armed men attempted to kidnap a wealthy trader here yesterday, but balked and escaped after their would-be captive feigned a heart attack and played dead.

The kidnappers hurriedly left on board their getaway vehicle, an air-conditioned van, leaving behind businessman Frank Chung, 54, lying on the floor of his roadside hardware store along a busy street here.

“They tried to drag Mr. Chung out of his store, but found it hard to put the ‘unconscious’ businessman in their van so they left him instead,” said Chief Inspector Eldy Magbanua, Midsayap police chief. Chung, a burly man, stands 6’2” tall.