12 Chinese held for kidnappings

MANILA, Philippines — Twelve Chinese were arrested in Parañaque and Pasay for allegedly kidnapping employees of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in separate cases since Wednesday.

A Southern Police District (SPD) spot report said police apprehended Li Yang, Zhou Hao, Liu Kie Yong, Zhang Jiao Hao and Qui You Bo in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque on Thursday after they allegedly kidnapped Yang Xiang Yu.

Their driver, Nelson Malavega, was also arrested.

The victim had alighted from a Grab vehicle when the suspects approached him and they had a “heated argument,” investigators said. The suspects then forced Yang into a black van.

A security guard who saw the incident called the police, who responded and arrested the suspects.

The suspects face inquest proceedings on charges of kidnapping.

Meanwhile, POGO employees Huang Long, 30; Zhang Xiao, 29; Yang Fang, 35; Wang Lin, 25; Fang Fang, 28; Wei Xiao Ming, 28; and Yang Fan, 35, were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly kidnapping and beating up another POGO worker, Zhao Long, 32.

According to a spot report from the Pasay police, two police officers were patrolling Taft Avenue when they saw two black vans and men milling around. When they tried to approach the vehicles, the men boarded the vans and sped off.

Police cornered the vans and found the seven Chinese and two Filipinos – Colin German, who was driving the vehicle, and Michael Bahan, identified as a private security officer.

The lawmen also saw Zhao, whom investigators said was beaten by co-workers following a heated argument over his salary.

The suspects face charges of kidnapping with serious physical injury and violating Republic Act 4136, which penalizes the transfer of license plates.

Pasay police chief Col. Cesar Paday-os told The STAR yesterday he plans to conduct a dialogue regarding the rise of POGO-related crimes, particularly kidnappings, in the city.