The Philippines National Bureau of Investigation has arrested nine people—eight Chinese and a Filipino—for allegedly kidnapping a Chinese man at the Okada Manila resort over his casino debt.
According to the Philippine Star, the suspects ordered the victim to call his relatives in China and ask them to pay PHP2 million (US$139,000) in ransom. They reportedly complied, sending about a quarter of that amount, at which the suspects demanded more.
The arrestees include Ben Tan, Haitao Wang, De Chun Qin, Xong Fei Chan, Xiao Qiang Yang, Dong Zheng Wen, Beijun Lin, Jung Wang and Jomar Lozada. They allegedly held the victim for at least two days until he was rescued, NBI Deputy Director Eric Distor said.
An official of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the country’s gaming regulatory body, told the Star that some syndicates invite potential high rollers from China to play in the Philippines. “It is when the gamer starts losing money that the syndicate entices them to continue playing by lending them money,” the source said.
