OPERATIVES of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) rescued on Monday a Malaysian and arrested her two captors, including a Chinese-Malaysian, in Paranaque City.
Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. presented to members of the media the two suspects — Chinese-Malaysian Chan Yong Howe, 29 and Filipino Justine Alaraz, 28 — at Camp Crame last Tuesday night.
The victim, Malaysian Lim Voon Phei, 35, arrived the country last September 9 reportedly to meet with one “Jerry” whom she got to know through a dating app.
The suspects fetched her at the airport and brought her to a safehouse in Carmona, Cavite.
Police said the suspects asked the victim to contact her family and tell them to pay 26,000 Malaysian Riggit (about P327,000) in exchange for her liberty.
Unknown to her captors, the victim was able to send their description and the vehicle they used in fetching her from the airport.
Using the information, AKG operatives, in coordination with the PNP Aviation Security Group, were able to trace the suspects and the victim at the vicinity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Monday, leading to the arrest of the suspects and rescue of the kidnap victim.
Abalos said the suspects and the victim were on the way to the NAIA Terminal 2 aboard a vehicle when were intercepted by police operatives.
“We will not rest until we gain an upper hand and deliver justice for the victims as we continue to uphold our mandate to keep our nation and the Filipino people safe and protected,” Abalos said.
AKG operatives also rescued 43 Chinese working at a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) firm in Angeles City, Pampanga early morning yesterday.
The operation also resulted in the arrest of Chinese Chen Yi Ben, alias Ayi, 33, the human resource manager of the POGO company named Lucky 99.
The Central Luzon regional police office said the victims, led by Chinese Wu Jia Ming, were rescued after they received information about POGO workers being “detained” or not allowed to leave the POGO premises.
The suspect and the victims were brought to the AKG headquarters at Camp Crame “for documentation and proper disposition.”
Abalos said the operation was conducted based on complaint of the family of one of the rescued victims that their loved one was kidnapped and the captors were demanding a P1 million ransom.
Meanwhile, PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has ordered a crackdown on civilian security personnel who are illegally hired by POGOs and other establishments.
“I have directed the PNP Civil Security Group (CSG) and police regional offices to conduct an inventory and accounting of all private protective agents providing security services as ‘bodyguard’ to some VIPs, including foreigners engaged in business activities in the country,” said Azurin.
Azurin said licensed protective agents must be covered by a Special Duty Detail Order issued by the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) authorizing them to carry firearms and perform bodyguard duties.
