4 Chinese kidnap victims rescued

MANILA, Philippines — Four Chinese kidnap victims were rescued from their captors in Quezon City and Pampanga on Wednesday night, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas said one of the victims, a Chinese woman, was rescued in a clinic along NS Amoranto Sr. Avenue at around 6 p.m.

An initial investigation showed that the victim was about to undergo swab test for COVID-19 for travel abroad when she was forcibly taken by armed suspects.

A follow-up operation was conducted at around 10:30 p.m. after the victim told police that three other Chinese were being held at a safehouse in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Mexico, Pampanga.

The three Chinese victims were rescued by police.

The police operations in Quezon City and Pampanga resulted in the arrest of 11 suspects.

Three of the suspects were identified as Liang Khai Chean, 28, a Malaysian; Chinese Mou Yun Peng, 35, and Filipino Benjie Labor, 43.

Police said the other suspects are two Chinese and six Filipinos.

“This successful rescue operation shows the dedication and commitment of the PNP against organized crimes,” Sinas said.

Sinas said he ordered a deeper probe to determine the circumstances behind the victims’ kidnapping.

The suspects are being held at the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group headquarters at Camp Crame on charges of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.