Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Jeff Caparas

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Pasay City police rescued a Chinese national who was allegedly kidnapped and illegally detained by fellow Chinese nationals inside a condominium unit in Barangay 13 along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on Friday, January 16.Police said the operation was launched after a friend of the victim reported receiving a distress message around 7:45 a.m.The victim was allegedly kidnapped and was being guarded by armed men, and had already transferred a large amount of money via cryptocurrency.“First he just told me that he’s been kidnapped and there’s four Chinese people with knives, he told me to call the embassy and the police. So that’s the first thing I did, I went straight to the police station here in Pasay and after that two police officers were able to come here to the condo building,” the victim’s friend said. Based on CCTV footage inside the condominium, police confirmed that the victim never left the building, prompting authorities to force entry into the unit.Upon entering the condominium, police arrested two suspects and rescued the victim. Two other suspects reportedly managed to escape and are now the subject of a manhunt.According to the victim, the incident began around noontime on Thursday when four suspects suddenly entered his rented unit and demanded USD 1 million, claiming he owed them money—a claim he denied. “Not great, it’s been a very hard day, I didn’t get enough sleep having hurt. So they just, first they just capture me with the hand and over there and asking me to handout the cryptocurrency that I have, they claimed that I owe them 1 million dollar, which I didn’t. I just know them upfront so,” he said. The victim added that one of the suspects had access to his unit and allowed the others inside.“There’s another suspect that opened the door for him, he used to be the friend of the criminal and he get to have the access of this, he do have the access of entering the room. They want more money,” he added. Police said the victim was restrained inside the master’s bedroom, with tape used to bind his hands. Authorities recovered tape, knives, handcuffs, and a belt allegedly used to hit the victim’s legs. Marks were still visible on the victim’s body. “Ito yung pinangtali sa kanyang kamay tapos ano lang ito sir, tinanggal lang nila nung gagamitin niya itong laptop para makapagbigay, makapag-transfer ng pera,” said P/Col. Joselito De Sesto, chief of Pasay CPS. Investigators also recovered unidentified medication from a trash bin inside the unit.“Ito yung ginamit na injection pang intimidate sa kanya kapag hindi siya mag-transfer ng pera, actually ito itinapon nila, nakita lang sa basurahan, di natin alam kung anong klaseng drugs ito, o poison,” said De Sesto. Despite the victim transferring about $400,000 in cryptocurrency and an additional $14,000, the suspects allegedly continued demanding more money.The suspects allegedly threatened to sell the victim’s internal organs if he failed to give them money. “They say they will sell me off, some of my kidneys and everything or just drive me off the country, sell me off to maybe Cambodia or where they came from.”Police said information from the Anti-Kidnapping Group revealed that one of the suspects was allegedly previously involved in kidnapping-for-ransom activities.“Meron natanggap tayo coming from the Anti-Kidnapping Group na itong isa nga po ay ano, allegedly kidnap-for-ransom din ang kanyang trabaho, yung isa iniimbestigahan pa natin,” said De Sesto. The suspects denied the allegations and claimed they were in the Philippines for vacation. They also accused the victim of owing them money.The suspects will face charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by R.A. 7659.

Pasay City police rescued a Chinese national who was allegedly kidnapped and illegally detained by fellow Chinese nationals inside a condominium unit in Barangay 13 along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on Friday.

Pasay City police rescued a Chinese national who was allegedly kidnapped and illegally detained by fellow Chinese nationals inside a condominium unit in Barangay 13 along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on Friday.

Police rescue Chinese national from kidnappers; 2 arrested

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Police rescue Chinese national from kidnappers; 2 arrested

Jeff Caparas,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 16, 2026 08:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Kidnapping

Chinese national

Pasay

Pasay City Police

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