Police nab 2 Chinese in Pasay condo robbery; 2 cohorts evade arrest
Police present the arrested suspects along with the victim’s recovered cellular phone. (Photo from Pasay City Police).
Two Chinese nationals were arrested, while their alleged accomplices remain the subject of a police manhunt, after they robbed a man collecting rental payments at a condominium unit in Pasay City on Monday, June 28.
Pasay City Police chief Col. Joselito De Sesto identified the arrested suspects as Yanchi Li, 29, and Huaihua Zou, a photographer.
The two other suspects — Xiaofei Yang, 36, and Vi Nao, 36 — managed to evade arrest.
According to De Sesto, the incident occurred on the fifth floor of Tower B, Shore I Residences in Barangay 76, Pasay City.
Investigators said the victim, identified only as Miguel Paolo, 30, arrived at Li's condominium unit to collect rental payments when he was allegedly pushed inside by the suspects.
The victim told police that one of the suspects pointed a gun at him, tied his hands, and prevented him from leaving the premises.
Police reported that the suspects then forced the victim to transfer money from his online accounts to bank accounts designated by them. They also took his cellular phone and other personal belongings before fleeing.
The victim said he was forced to transfer P50,000 through his BDO online banking account, P6,500 via GCash, and P139,992 in cryptocurrency.
Authorities said the victim, accompanied by a security guard, reported the incident to the MOA Police Substation, prompting police to launch a follow-up operation on Tuesday, June 29.
The operation led investigators to the suspects after the tracking application on the victim's stolen cellular phone indicated it was located at Jinjiang Hotel along Service Road, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
Police arrested Zou after he was seen exiting the hotel.
During questioning, investigators determined that Li was staying on the eighth floor of the same hotel, leading to his arrest.
Authorities are continuing operations to locate and arrest the two remaining suspects.