TWO Chinese kidnap victims were rescued and their four captors, also Chinese, were arrested in a police operation at a casino resort in Paranaque City last Saturday, the PNP reported yesterday.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP chief Gen. Nicanor Torre III said the operation was conducted based on a call made by a Chinese friend of one of the victims through the emergency hotline 911.
Police said the victim, who was identified only as Mr. Ang, sought assistance from the suspects in transferring P150,000 to his mother in China for her medical expenses last Friday.
After handing an initial P100,000 to the suspects, Torre said the suspects convinced the victim to go with them to the casino resort supposedly to complete the money transfer.
On the way to the resort, Torre said the suspects handcuffed and pointed a gun at the victim, who was also harmed.
He said the suspects then demanded a $50,000 ransom.
Torre said the suspects requested his captors to use his cellphone, which the suspects had earlier seized, supposedly to call his family.
He said the victim instead called a Chinese friend who later reported the incident to the PNP through the 911 hotline.
The PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) promptly conducted the operation last Saturday, leading to the rescue of the victim and arrest of the suspects, who were identified as Li Yunhan, 30; Shao Jiwen, 35; Song Haiqing, 27; and Li Huigi, alias Li Huichi, 42.
“All suspects were inside a hotel room of the casino where the victim was unlawfully detained,” the AKG said in a statement.
Also found inside the room was a Chinese tourist, a 19-year-old female, who turned out to be another kidnapping victim.
The second victim, Torre said, went to the casino resort to exchange currency.
“The suspects took her money and did not allow her to leave,” said Torre, without giving other details of the case.
Torre said the AKG is conducting a further investigation to determine if the suspects were involved in similar kidnapping activities.
“This incident proves the effectiveness of the rapid response mechanism of the PNP,” said Torre.
Torre has introduced a program that requires police units to respond to emergency calls within five minutes.
During the press briefing, Torre reported several other successful police operations conducted through the 911 hotline, including the arrest of a robber in Marikina City last June 18, and the arrest of three armed men who harassed a resident in Makati City last June 30.
In Pavia town in Iloilo last August 1, Torre said policemen responded to an emergency call made by a mother who reported her son, armed with a knife, was trying to harm family members.
Torre said policemen arrived at the scene three minutes later.
However, the suspect attacked the policemen with his knife, prompting one of the lawmen to open fire. The suspect was brought to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
“Now, some are asking why our policeman killed the suspect who was only armed with a knife. This is under review,” said Torre, adding the PNP is presuming regularity in the action of the policeman.
“We are also studying the possibility of our policemen bringing with them non-lethal weapons, baton and pepper spray, taser or the case maybe (in future police operations),” said Torre.
