2 Chinese nationals arrested in Parañaque after scuffle with NBI agents

Courtesy: NBI - CRID 

MANILA — A supposed entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation escalated into violence when two Chinese men resisted arrest— one of them attacking NBI agents in Parañaque City last Friday.

According to NBI, the operation stemmed from a complaint filed by another Chinese national who reported that his passport was being withheld by the suspects, who were demanding a ransom for its return.

100 Chinese nationals deported to Shanghai in illegal gambling crackdown

The complainant was reportedly a former worker in a scam hub and claimed he could not return to China unless he paid P35,000 to recover his passport.

The situation quickly escalated when the suspect’s companion, also a Chinese national, began punching one of the arresting agents during the operation.

 “To think na foreigner to, hindi naman to Pilipino, bakit lalaban? Tinamaan tuloy ‘yong isang abogado natin. Nasapak sa mukha. Sabi ko 'di pupwede yan. Sabi ko sige, i-subdue nyo,” said Noel Bocaling, assistant director of the NBI Intelligence Service.

(To think he is a foreigner, not a Filipino, why would he fight back? He hit one of our lawyers in the face. I said 'this cannot stand' so I told the agents to subdue him)

He said the victim had wanted to leave the Philippines after escaping from the scam hub but needed his passport back.

The NBI agents eventually managed to subdue and handcuff the suspects.

“Hindi na sila natatakot kapag nakilala nilang NBI o pulis. Para sa kanila akala nila nandito na sila sa lugar nila. Nagkakamali sila with regard to the NBI. Maniwala sila sa akin,” Bocaling said.

(They did not seem to fear the NBI or police. I think, for them, they think they are back home. They are wrong with regard to the NBI. They should believe me) 

TV PATROL: 100 Chinese na nahuli sa mga POGO at scam hubs ibinalik sa China

The NBI confirmed that three of their agents were hurt in the encounter.

The victim’s passport has since been returned.

The two suspects are now detained at the NBI Detention Facility in Muntinlupa City and will be charged of robbery extortion, direct assault to a person in authority, and violation of the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.