Indonesian held for kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines — An Indonesian who allegedly kidnapped his co-employee at a Chinese Philippine offshore gaming operator firm was arrested in Makati on Monday, the police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) said yesterday.

Falendra, also known as Parker, 26, was apprehended during an operation in Barangay Poblacion at around 5:20 p.m.

Maj. Ronaldo Lumactod, AKG spokesman, said the operation was based on a tip from Xiong Lifei, a Chinese who claimed that her cousin was still being kept by Falendra’s group.

Xiong told police that Falendra, three Chinese and a Filipino kidnapped her in front of her residence in Makati, where she was forced into a van and brought to a safehouse in Tagaytay City, Cavite.

The suspects demanded one million renminbi in exchange for her freedom.

According to Lumactod, the victim escaped while the suspects were asleep.

She then sought the help of a couple to bring her back to Metro Manila.

Xiong went to the police after a relative messaged her through WeChat that the suspects had kidnapped her cousin and were asking 450,000 renminbi as ransom.

Police launched an operation that led to Falendra’s arrest.

Xiong’s cousin remains missing and lawmen are conducting a follow-up operation to rescue her.

Also in Makati, Wen Guangyuan, 26, and Li Bing, 24, were arrested on Monday for allegedly detaining Yan Xu and Guoting Wang in a unit at the Kroma Tower over unpaid debts.

The operation was staged after Yan’s girlfriend, a 24-year-old barista, sought police assistance, saying he had been detained at the unit since March 15.