Eight Chinese nabbed for kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines — Eight Chinese were arrested after they allegedly kidnapped their compatriots in Muntinlupa City, the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said yesterday.

Charges of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention were filed on Sunday before the Las Piñas City prosecutor’s office against Gui Yang, Zhou Xia Long, Wang Wen Tao, Xiong Li, Jiang Fan, Hong Pei Feng, Ly Shao Yojng and Jiang Ying Jiang, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Amador Corpus said.

The suspects were accused of kidnapping Liu Chao, 27, and Li San Sheng, 25, at a restaurant in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa on June 22.

The victims, who arrived in the country last April as tourists, were rescued from a house in Barangay Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas at around 3 a.m. on June 28.

Corpus said the suspects tortured the victims and sent videos to the victims’ relatives as they demanded 800,000 yuan in ransom.

“They were found handcuffed (to) a wooden double-deck bed in a room, with visible marks of injuries,” Corpus said in a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Corpus said the suspects are led by a certain “Tanda” or “Baho,” who is the subject of a police manhunt.

An investigation found that the suspects, who operated an online gaming website, monitor and befriend players who win large amounts of money.

“These players will then be invited to a dinner and offered a job with high salary,” Corpus said.

The group will then kidnap the victims and ask ransom from their relatives, he said.