Chinese gang sneaking into Philippines to rob traders

MANILA, Philippines - Members of a criminal syndicate based in China are sneaking into the country to rob Chinese businessmen, police said yesterday.

While they are quick to enter the country, the Chinese gang members are also quick to escape after transferring millions of yuan to a bank in China.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) learned about the Chinese syndicate’s racket after one of the victims, a certain Sen Mao Zheng, 32, complained to the Manila Police District (MPD) about a P7.6-million robbery.

According to Sen, he was alone in his rented condo unit in Binondo, Manila on May 25 when three men, armed with short firearms, entered through an unlocked door.

The suspects, who were wearing black pants, long-sleeved shirts and carrying backpacks, ordered Sen, a native of Fujian, to transfer money to a bank in China through the Internet.

When he refused, the suspects hurt him until he acceded to their demand to transfer 1.048 yuan (about P7.6 million) to the Chinese bank. They also allegedly took about P600,000 in cash, which Sen said he kept in a drawer.

The police also reported that the suspects fled and left without being detected by the building’s security personnel.

A police official claimed that the suspects were members of a crime ring in China who managed to surreptitiously enter the country to rob Chinese businessmen.

“The Chinese crime syndicate members appear directly at the doors of their intended victims after arriving at the airport. They also leave for China upon the completion of their mission,” said a police official who requested anonymity.

It is unclear what business Sen owns in the country.

Police probers are also at a loss on how the crime ring based in China managed to pick victims in the Philippines.