Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP-AKG) arrested four foreigners for their alleged involvement in the kidnap-for ransom of a fellow Chinese.

PNP chief, Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the arrested Chinese suspects used to work for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO), but later engaged in various illegal money-making activities after it was banned by President Marcos.

“This is an offshoot of the foreigners who lost their jobs after the POGO ban. We are exerting all the efforts to track them down and bring back to their country of origin,” said Torre.

But even before the POGO ban was implemented, Torre said there were foreign POGO personnel who were engaged in various illegal activities that include kidnap-for-ransom and killing.

PNP-AKG director Brig. Gen. Glicerio Cansilao said the operation they conducted stemmed from the call of the female victim herself to a member of the Parañaque City Police Station on Aug. 2.

It was learned that on Aug. 1, the victim asked for the suspects’ help for the transfer of around P150,000 to China for the medical expenses of her mother.

“After handing over an initial P100,000.00, the suspects convinced the victim to accompany them to a casino under the pretense of completing the money transfer,” said Cansilao.

While en route, the suspects restrained him with handcuffs, threatened him with a firearm, and demanded a larger amount in exchange for his freedom.

While being held, the victim was physically harmed and forced to transfer an approximate amount of $50,000 a cryptocurrency wallet.

It was then that the female victim took the opportunity to call a friend from the Parañaque City Police Station. During that time, she and the abductors were on their way to a casino.

“We immediately coordinated with the security of the establishment, they cooperated with us and this resulted in the arrest of the four suspects,” said Cansilao.

Initially, five Chinese were brought to the PNP-AKG but during the investigation, the fifth suspect, also a foreigner, turned out to be a kidnap-for-ransom victim too.

A background check, according to Cansilao, revealed that the four suspects are known to be former POGO workers who are now engaged in money lending and currency exchange.

Cansilao explained that based on the investigation, the modus of the suspects is to identify their potential victims based on the transactions they would make.

Once it is established that they could earn money, they would find ways to meet with the potential victims for the kidnap-for-ransom racket.