12 nabbed in kidnapping of Chinese businessman

MANILA, Philippines — Six Chinese and six Filipinos were arrested for kidnapping for ransom a 30-year-old businessman who was rescued in Batangas on Sunday, the Philippine National Police announced yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the victim, also a Chinese, was rescued by the police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), nearly two weeks after he was seized in Metro Manila on July 1 during a bogus vehicle transaction.

“This was a premeditated act by an organized group composed of foreign and local suspects. After gaining the trust of the victim, they took control of the vehicle and demanded a large sum of money from his family in exchange for his release,” Torre said in a briefing at Camp Crame.

Brig. Gen. Glicerio Cansilao, AKG director, said the suspected mastermind in the kidnapping is under police custody.

He said 12 days of surveillance and intelligence work led them to a safehouse in Batangas where the victim was being held. Follow-up operations in Pasay and Makati cities and in Imus, Cavite led to the arrest of the remaining suspects.

Cansilao said the rescue and arrest of the suspects was the result of early reporting by the victim’s family and close coordination with other law enforcement units.

“According to the victim’s statement, he was hit in the head with a firearm when he was taken,” Cansilao said.

He added that investigators are probing whether the group is involved in previous kidnappings and if there are links to Philippine offshore gaming operators.

“The suspects were planning another kidnapping,” he said.

Police seized two firearms, over P1 million in cash, illegal drugs and police and security guard uniforms during the raids.

They also recovered several fake IDs, raising possible charges of falsification of public documents and immigration violations.

Charges for kidnapping for ransom, violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and money laundering, among others, are being prepared against the suspects.