10 Chinese men rescued from captors in Cavite

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Ten Chinese men kidnapped by suspected members of a loan shark gang were rescued in Noveleta, Cavite on Monday.

Col. William Segun, Cavite police director, identified the victims as Hu Ran, 28; Huang Yong Zheng, 37; Lin Ya Bin, 27; Sun Ren Xin, 26; Cao Yong Feng, 25; Huang Zhi Ping, 30; ZhangDing, 30; Fang Yu,32; Gao wei, 38, and Wu Jung Qiang, 32.

The victims were rescued at an apartment in Barangay San Antonio at around 4:45 p.m.

Five Chinese men and their Filipino cohort identified as Rufino Setenta, 42, who reportedly yielded a 9mm pistol, were arrested.

Police said a Toyota Camry, which the suspects reportedly used to bring the victims to their safehouse, was recovered.

Maj. Richard Corpuz, Kawit police chief, said the victims were snatched from casinos in Pasay after they failed to pay the money they borrowed from the suspects.

“Some of them have been under the custody of the gang for seven days,” Corpuz said.

The police operation followed the rescue of Ai Wu Yong, 27, who escaped from his captors through an open window of a house in Kawit, Cavite on Sunday night.

One of Yong’s captors, identified as Teddy Lim, 45, was collared in a followup operation in Barangay San Sebastian also in Kawit. – Ed Amoroso