In Manila, Philippines, authorities have successfully rescued a Chinese student who had been abducted by a gang reportedly led by Chinese nationals. This gang allegedly went as far as murdering the student’s driver and severing the student’s finger to coerce the family into paying a hefty ransom, according to officials’ statements on Wednesday.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla shared that the student’s family did not comply with the ransom demands. The perpetrators, who included former Filipino police officers and soldiers, released the young student, aged 14, in the midst of a bustling street in metropolitan Manila after police started closing in on their vehicle on the previous night.
The kidnapping, which occurred on February 20 as the student left his classes at a British school in Manila, sparked concern due to its audacity and violence. This incident prompted further investigations into the nature of the crime and those involved.
Secretary Remulla also mentioned that both the victim’s family and the Chinese ringleader of the kidnappers were said to have previously operated successful online gambling businesses. These enterprises flourished during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte but faced closure by current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
These gambling outfits had been centered in the Philippines, Cambodia, and other Southeast Asian countries, serving a large clientele primarily from China, where gambling remains illegal.
Remulla remarked, “This case involves a crime committed by a Chinese individual against another Chinese national,” noting that communications between the victim’s family and the kidnappers occurred through the WeChat app in Chinese.
Following the suppression of these illegal gambling operations, it is believed some individuals turned to other criminal activities such as kidnapping, Remulla elaborated. Meanwhile, online cryptocurrency dealings and fraudulent schemes related to love and investments continue to pose significant threats.
In a bid to extort a ransom initially set at $20 million, but later reduced to $1 million, the kidnappers inflicted harm by cutting off the tip of the victim’s finger and transmitting a video of the distressing act to the student’s parents, Remulla explained.
The body of the student’s driver was located in a deserted vehicle, which also contained crucial pieces of evidence, including contact numbers. The suspects appeared to have abandoned this vehicle in haste, disclosed Remulla. Authorities have managed to identify the kidnappers, and efforts to apprehend them are ongoing, per Remulla and police officials.
