4 Chinese kidnap suspects slain in Lapu-Lapu

MANILA, Philippines — Four Chinese citizens who allegedly kidnapped their compatriot were killed in a reported shootout with law enforcers in Lapu-Lapu, Cebu on Monday night.

Police said kidnap victim Lyu Xingou, who was taken in Barangay Lahug in Cebu City on May 25, was rescued.

The slain suspects, whose identification cards bore the names Jinming Gong, Yiping You, Fengqiang Li and Heng Lin, shot it out with operatives of the police Anti-Kidnapping Group and local police who raided their hideout in Barangay Bangkal, AKG director Brig. Gen. Rudolph Dimas said.

Dimas said the victim’s son, who is in China, told probers the kidnappers communicated with him through Chinese social media app WeChat and demanded P20 million in ransom money.

The victim’s son said he sent 500,000 renminbi or about P3.9 million through the messaging app.

Police said four firearms of unknown caliber were recovered from the fatalities.

Lt. Zosimo Ravanes, AKG-Central Visayas head, said they are looking at the possibility that the group was also behind the kidnapping of another Chinese in Barangay Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City last month.

He said it is possible that the suspects were part of a kidnap gang, adding that “big personalities” based in Manila may be part of the group. – The Freeman