The recent kidnapping of a Chinese teenager in Manila rekindled criminal ties of the disgraced Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) sector was.
Interior Sec. Jonvic Remulla tagged an alleged syndicate with POGO association to be behind the kidnapping of a 14-year old Chinese national studying in a British school located at the upscale Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
The student was reportedly kidnapped as he came out from school on February 20. He returned home five days later but not after his driver was found murdered.
There have been conflicting reports on how the kidnap victim was returned to his family.
Government said the boy was rescued by police operatives although the Manila Times newspaper, citing information from a confidential source from within the Philippine National Police (PNP), reported that a $1 million ransom was paid.
A Senate probe is underway to unlock the mystery.
The Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) claimed that both sides — the kidnappers and the kidnap victim’s family — have been associated with POGO which was banned by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last year due to numerous criminal cases as a consequence of its clandestine side operations.
Police information chief Col. Randulf Tuaño said authorities were looking into the possibility that the kidnapping was related with his father’s previous connection to POGO and his current online business.
“Ang isa sa miyembro ng pamilya po ay dati pong involved sa business ng POGO na kung saan pinag-uusapan po nila yung pagbabayad ng mga utang. ‘Yun din ang sinusundan ng AKG (Anti-Kidnapping Group),” Col. Tuaño said.
(One of the family members was previously involved in the POGO business where they were discussing payment of debts. AKG is also following this lead.)
Filipino-Chinese community leader Teresita Ang See denied that the victim’s family had been associated with POGO operations in the past.
On the other hand, Remulla said the kidnapping ring had a separate previous involvement with POGO.
”We are definite na ang sindikato na nasa likod ng kidnapping ay former operators ng POGO din. We are definite na ang perpetrators ay ginamit ang kanilang former bodyguards na AWOL (absent without leave) na ngayon sa serbisyo ng AFP at PNP,” said Remulla.
(We are definite that the syndicate behind the kidnapping were former operators of POGO. We are definite that the perpetrators used their former bodyguards who were already AWOL from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.)
One of the kidnappers was identified as a certain Wang Dan Yu a.k.a. Bao Long, said to be a Chinese fugitive wanted for several crimes including murder, carnap, and kidnap for ransom.
The syndicate reportedly conspired with the Chinese teenager’s driver in carrying out the February 20 kidnapping in BGC, Taguig City.
After school time, the kidnappers made their move by taking over the luxury vehicle of the student and his driver.
The next day, the vehicle was found abandoned in Bulacan province. The 29-year-old driver was later found lifeless in another vehicle.
Ransom negotiations then ensued with the amount first pegged at $20 million until it was reportedly reduced to $1 million.
Four days later, the kidnap victim was found by the authorities along Macapagal Avenue in Paranaque City. No arrests were reported though.
Remulla stressed that no ransom was paid.
The Interior chief said they were certain that the perpetrators of the crime were still in the Philippines. ”We will make sure that they will be neutralized at the soonest possible time,” he said.
The PNP, for its part, said it will cooperate with any legislative probe. “We respect the Senate’s authority to look into this matter and will extend our full cooperation in the proceedings,” said PNP chief Rommel Marbil.
