The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Tuesday, March 29, the arrest of four persons believed to be members of a syndicate involved in the kidnapping and killing of Chinese nationals.

In a statement, the NBI identified those arrested as Chinese nationals Li Tao, Huang Bao Jian, and Yu Jingdong, and Filipino Mark Rovel De Ocampo.

It said the first to be arrested were Li Tao and Huang Bao Jian who were caught at a Chinese restaurant “for selling 3 unlicensed firearms -- Glock 22 cal. 40, Glock 30 cal. 45 and a Springfield XD-9 Subcompact 9mm.”

“Follow up operation in Villamor in Pasay City likewise resulted in the arrest of Mark Rovel De Ocampo alias ‘Erick Isaytono De Ocampo’ whom the Chinese Subjects pointed to as their gun supplier,” it said.

Following their arrest, the NBI said its agents from the International Operations Division (NBI-IOD) were able to track down other suspected syndicate members in Aseana City in Paranaque City last March 25.

“When the NBI-IOD operatives ordered the Subjects to disembark from their heavily tinted vehicle, they refused and instead rammed the vehicles of the operating team and tried to run over those who approached their vehicle,” it said.

“Thereafter, a firefight ensued and the Subjects managed to narrowly escape,” it noted.

After an alarm was sent to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the vehicle was found in a nearby parking area, it also said.

Found in the vehicle were Yung Jingdong who was wounded during the firefight and his slain Vietnamese companion Tuan Dat, the NBI said.

“Subject Yu Jingdong, also a Chinese national, was brought to a hospital,” it said.

It said that Yu Jingdong was arrested last Feb. 15, 2022 in Okada Hotel for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and charged before the Paranaque City Prosecutor's Office.

It also said the De Ocampo, on the other hand, has been charged with kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention, rape, and violations of the firearms law and the Omnibus Election Code.