By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Three Chinese nationals and a Filipino cohort were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a Chinese citizen, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced on Thursday.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Nartatez identified the Chinese males by their aliases “XL,” “LHW” and “Chen Chen,” and the Filipino female as “Radx”. They were caught by police in Angeles City after the victim managed to escape last Tuesday.
For his part, Anti-Kidnapping Group chief Brig. Gen. Edwin Balles said the victim was a 37-year-old Chinese man who owned a local supermarket chain.
He also said that the suspects’ motive may have been purely “to gain money” since they had demanded a USD1 million (roughly PHP60 million) for the victim’s release.
Balles said the victim was supposedly abducted in front of an establishment along Friendship Highway also in Angeles City last Sunday but managed to escape two days later.
He said the four arrested suspects were subjected to inquest proceedings for kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention while two more suspects — another man believed to be Chinese and another Filipino cohort — are still at large.
Balles noted that police investigators are now coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration and the Chinese Embassy to get records of the foreigners allegedly involved in the case. (PNA)
