A Chinese national was rescued from his kidnappers by a traffic-aide who heeded his shout for help Tuesday, Jan. 11, in Pasay City.
Col. Cesar Paday-os, Pasay City police chief, identified the victim as Zhong Yanglei, 32, web-designer, and a resident of JAZZ Residences Tower A, Barangays Bangkal, Makati City.
Paday-os said the incident happened at about 3:50 p.m. along Domestic Road corner MIA Road, Pasay City.
He said Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic-aide Amor Bernardo, 59, of 240-C Rodriguez St., Balut, Tondo Manila, was overseeing the traffic in the area when he heard the shout of Zhong for help.
Bernardo told police that when he heard the shout for help, he immediately approached the white Toyota Alphard with plate number NFU-5957 with three unidentified Filipinos and two Chinese nationals onboard.
He also told police he saw the victim trying to get out from the vehicle and helped him.
The traffic-aide told police that he was able to rescue the victim with the help of bank security guards near the area.
Paday-os said the victim claimed that he was on board the van and after getting an RT-PCR test at a drive-thru facility of the Philippine Diagnostic Laboratory, two unidentified male suspects immediately opened the door of the vehicle tried to board it.
Zhing, sensing danger, immediately shouted for help and tried to get out of the vehicle but was prevented by the suspects.
Paday-os said the suspects immediately fled towards the direction of Tambo, Paranaque City after Bernardo successfully grabbed the victim out of the vehicle.
He said they are now coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to determine the owner of the van.