MANILA, July 19 — Joint operatives of the Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine National Police-Anti Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) arrested a total of 45 foreigners who were allegedly members of a kidnap for ransom group (KFR) victimizing high roller casino players in the country.
Based on information sent to reporters by Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes, the arrest of foreign nationals came after the joint operation led to the rescue of a female Singaporean national identified as Wu Yan.
Based on the report submitted by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) to the Department of Justice, the victim was forcibly taken by three men and a woman at Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City and was brought to Room 301 of the nearby Bayview International Towers.
The report added that the victim was beaten and threatened by her kidnappers who demanded USD180,000 for her release.
During the conduct of the initial operation, 26 foreign nationals were rounded up, all of whom failed to present any immigration document and refused to reveal their identities.
But the victim positively identified three of the 26 arrested as her kidnappers — Malaysian nationals Ng Yu Meng and Goh Kok Keong and Chinese national Zhang Fuxing, the alleged leader of the group.
A follow up operation led to the arrest of 19 more foreigners believed to be members of the KFR group.
The arrested foreigners were brought to the PNP AKG HQs at Camp Crame, Quezon City. Two officers from the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China and Chinese Interpol assisted in the investigation and also served as translators.
The susoects still undergoing further investigation and will be subjected to inquest proceedings by DOJ State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon. (Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan/PNA)