2 Chinese arrested for detaining Taiwanese

MANILA, Philippines — Two Chinese were apprehended yesterday for allegedly detaining a Taiwanese businessman who owed them P300,000 at a casino in Parañaque City.

Xiong Tao, 31, and Liao Yifei, 28, were arrested in Barangay Tambo at around 5 a.m.

They were accused of arbitrarily detaining Chou Yinchin, 37, who was billeted at a hotel in Malate, Manila.

Police said Chou was held by the suspects after he failed to pay his loan due to gambling.

Chou arrived as a tourist in Manila on June 11.

The suspects demanded the victim’s relatives in Taipei to pay the loan in exchange for his release, which prompted them to seek assistance from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO).

Authorities from TECO reported the incident to the Parañaque police, resulting in the suspects’ arrest.