MANILA — Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have apprehended two Chinese nationals for illegally detaining a Chinese couple in Pasay City.
In a press conference Tuesday, NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin identified the suspects as Su Jianshui and Chenwin Bin, who were arrested at their office at the Shell Residence in Pasay on January 19.
Lavin identified the victims as Ai Xiao Feng and Xiao Qzao Ling, who were rescued by agents of the NBI’s Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (AOTCD) at a rented house in Moonwalk, Paranaque City on the evening of January 19.
After the rescue, agents from the bureau conducted a follow-up operation and arrested the two suspects at their office.
The case stemmed from a report that the suspects might be involved in an illegal activity.
According to the report received by the AOTCD, CYX Manpower Services, which is based at the Diplomat Condominium, Russel Ave., Roxas Blvd. in Pasay City, was in need of bodyguards.
The hired bodyguards were told that the persons they would secure were in a room and must not be allowed to escape.
Allegedly, instead of being interviewed, the bodyguards were asked to demonstrate how they put handcuffs.
NBI-AOTCD chief Dennis Sychian said the suspects operate an online gaming business and had accused the couple of losing 700,000 renminbi, equivalent to PHP5.5 million.
The suspects had handcuffed the couple at their office and brought them to a rented house in Moonwalk last January 18.
A guard who was on his first day of work witnessed the incident and after finding it suspicious, quickly reported it to the NBI.
Synchian said the victims used tourist visas to enter the country.
Lavin said the two suspects had already been subjected to inquest proceedings for serious illegal detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code. (PNA)
