A GANG of Chinese nationals kidnapping and killing their compatriots, mostly POGO workers in the country was smashed by Philippine National Police agents in an anti-kidnapping operation in San Pedro City, Laguna last Saturday, a report to PNP chief, General Debold M. Sinas said yesterday.
Arrested during a hot pursuit operation at Southwoods in Barangay San Vicente, Rosario Complex in San Pedro City 2:30 a.m. last Saturday were Qun Deng alias ‘Xiao Pei,’ Kang Jia Wei alias ‘Nan Lu,’ Gui Chen, Shu Liu Tao, Deng Zi Yi, Feng Quing Xin, Huan Xiang Bin and their Filipino cohort identified as Nicanor Pantis alias ‘Noki.’
PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, Major Gen. Joel Napoleon M. Coronel, said they conducted the operation following a call for assistance from the manager of Smartwin Technology, Inc. last January 7.
The manager told CIDG investigators that one of their employees named Lyu Long was kidnapped and killed by the suspects.
The informant added that suspect Qun Deng demanded 1 million RMB from Lyu Rong’s immediate supervisor shortly after they snatched the victim and his female friend identified as Liu Xue Xue last December 23.
Coronel said they learned that the supervisor paid the kidnappers 403,000 RMB. However, despite the payment of the ransom, the kidnappers did not release the two victims and still demanded for the rest of the ransom.
The official said the complainant claimed he sought their assistance after he received information that Lyu Long was killed and his body dumped in a deep ravine along a road in Talisay City in Batangas.
Coronel said police investigators recovered the decomposing body of the victim who was identified based on the clothes he was wearing when he was last seen in a video sent by the kidnappers.
The official said that in coordination with the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) headed by Brigadier Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo, they asked the manager to continue talking with the kidnappers and assure them that their demand will be met, although Philippine peso and not RMB would be paid to them in exchange for the safe release of Liu Xue Xue.
Coronel said the kidnappers and the manager agreed to meet along Silmer/Silcas in Barangay San Francisco in Biñan, Laguna where suspects Qun Deng and Pintes arrived on board a Toyota Vios and received the boodle money from the manager.
Shortly after the payoff was made, police arrested the Chinese national. However, Pintes was able to escape prompting the CIDG and PNP-AKG officers to pursue him with the help of the arrested Chinese.
Coronel said they later raided the kidnappers’ safehouse in Silcres Subdivision in San Pedro City where they rescued the female captive and arrested the other suspects.
Two others identified as Kang Jia Wei and Pintes were arrested along Manila South woods Golf and Country Club in Biñan City.
Recovered during the operation were a caliber .45 pistol, 9mm pistol, cal. .22 Magnum revolver, 70 rounds of assorted live ammunition and the Toyota Vios used by the suspects.
Coronel said their investigation showed Lyu Long was killed in a resort in Talisay City before being dumped by his killers in a deep ravine along the Tagaytay-Talisay Road. The body of the victim was discovered by a local resident around 3 p.m. last January 3.
He said that during a debriefing, victim Lu Xue Xue said she was sexually abused by Sh Liu Tao during her captivity before being taken to the resort in Talisay City where Lyu Long was killed.
Coronel identified Qun Den and Kang Jia Wei as the leaders of the so-called ‘Xiaopen-Nanlu Chinese Kidnapping-for-Ransom Group targeting Chinese POGO workers in the country and offering them prostitutes to lure them into meeting them.
He said the suspects also used to attract their fellow Chinese nationals with much lucrative salaries in other POGO firms in the country.
“Once they have met their targets in person, they would kidnap them and demand ransom money from their relatives or friends here in the country or in China. However, what is worst here is that once they have received the ransom, they would kill their captives and dump their bodies,” said Coronel.
The official said the suspects were also identified to be involved in the kidnapping of one Guang Lin last December 18. Although the victim’s cousin paid the partial ransom demanded by the suspect, the latter was still shot by the suspects and dumped in a creek in Bgy. Burol Main in Dasmariñas City in Cavite.
Coronel said the victim survived a gunshot wound on his nape which exited on the left side of his face. He said the victim positively identified Pintes as the one who shot him in the presence of his fellow Chinese nationals ‘Nanlu,’ ‘Xiao Pei,’ Feng Quing Xin, Huang Xiong Bin and one Dong Xi whom he said were all involved in his abduction.
All suspects are now facing charges for Kidnapping for Ransom with Murder and Frustrated Murder, Abduction with Rape, Serious Illegal Detention and violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Law, said Coronel.
