2 Vietnamese women rescued from crime syndicate, 4 Chinese men nabbed

Two Vietnamese women were rescued from four Chinese men who were allegedly part of a kidnap-for-ransom group and a crime syndicate for POGO companies.

According to a 24 Oras report by John Consulta on Thursday, an operation conducted by the Parañaque City Police and SWAT led to the arrest of the suspects at a condo in Parañaque.

Authorities were able to seize three guns with silencers and several party drugs, and rescued the two Vietnamese hostages.

Investigation revealed the suspects pretended to be clients of the victims, who had a money-changing business, and forcibly accessed their digital wallet.

“During the time she stayed there in the suspect[‘s] residence, they abused her, put a gun on her and also [a] knife on her body to force her to send the money,” said the victim through an interpreter.

The suspects also stole the victim’s money and jewelry, which they were forcing her relatives to buy back.

“Nakapagnakaw sila ng jewelries. Nakapagpa-withdraw sila ng about P20 million. Ang modus nila dito, nag-aabduct sila, (They were able to steal jewelry. They were able to withdraw about P20 million. Their modus is to abduction.) particularly preying on POGO officials… POGO employees or foreign nationals, Vietnamese, Cambodian, or Chinese nationals,” said NCRPO Regional Director Major General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

The other victim was able to escape and ask for help.

The suspects were allegedly part of a crime syndicate that acted as the “muscle” of POGO companies and tasked to kidnap foreigners.

The suspects claimed they worked in the Philippines as POGO workers for the past three years and that they did not own the firearms seized during the operation.

Further investigation revealed the suspects had four cases of rape and kidnapping in Southern Metro Manila, while one of them was wanted in China for rape, murder, kidnapping, human trafficking and extortion.

Authorities continue to look for a suspect who managed to escape and other members of the alleged syndicate. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News