2 Chinese arrested for fake kidnapping

MANILA, Philippines — A hoax kidnapping staged by two Chinese men in Parañaque City was foiled on Thursday, the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) reported yesterday.

AKG director Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Castil Jr. said their operatives responded to a report about a Chinese being held in Barangay Tambo.

The operation, which took place at around 2 p.m., resulted in the arrest of Huchuan Wang, 31, and the rescue of the alleged victim, whose identity is being withheld by the police.

The reported kidnapping was endorsed by the Chinese embassy based on the narrative of the victim’s wife, who claimed her husband was forcibly taken on May 14.

Through social media platform WeChat, the wife received a photograph of the alleged victim in handcuffs and a demand of P800,000 in exchange for his release.

However, an investigation revealed the kidnapping was a hoax staged by the two foreigners.

Castil said it is the third time the two Chinese staged a kidnapping so that that victim can acquire money from his family to pay off his casino debts.

“We will not tolerate this kind of fraudulent activity and we will make sure that appropriate legal actions will be executed on the two personalities and may this serve as a stern warning to those reporting similar incidents to our unit,” Castil said in a a statement.

The two Chinese are detained at the AKG headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.