Manhunt on for Chinese extortion suspect

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has launched a manhunt for a Chinese national who allegedly extorted nearly P1 million from a Chinese student, an official said yesterday.

 Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano, QCPD investigation chief, said his men are now hot on the trail of Wang Wei after Liang Sun, 23, a native of Wuhan City in Hubei province, filed a complaint. Liang is studying at a computer school and staying in a house in Villa Arca 1, Project 8.

Liang told police that at around 2 a.m. on Jan. 29, Wang went to his house and warned him he offended a boy in school. Liang said Wang drew a handgun and pointed it at him, saying something bad will happen to him and his landlord, who was sleeping in the room next to his, if he did not settle. The suspect added he had two companions waiting outside, and demanded P200,000 for the boy Liang allegedly offended.

Fearing for his life, Liang said he gave Wang HK$19,000 and P50,000 he was made to withdraw from an automated teller machine nearby.

The next morning, Liang said Wang called on his cell phone, telling him the boy’s father was hunting him down in school and was waiting for him to show up there. He said the suspect this time demanded another P50,000 to settle his problem. He said he gave Wang the amount at a burger joint in Project 8.

But apart from the money, Liang told police Wang also took his plane tickets, alien certificate of registration card and passport before leaving.

On Jan. 31, the suspect again visited Liang and demanded another P400,000. He said he was taken to a hotel in Chinatown and then to a burger outlet in Project 8.

Sometime later, Liang’s cousins, Sophie Xie and Sunny Yaw, went to his place, telling him they were told by Wang they would be killed if they did not give him the money. At this point, Liang decided to call the police for help.

Elenzano said he formed a team led by Senior Police Officer 1 Neil Garnace to undertake a follow-up operation.   – Jerry Botial