An initial investigation revealed that on July 31, a Chinese citizen was intercepted in the parking lot of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City by individuals claiming to be agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. The masked men presented credentials, preventing mall security from taking further action.
Subsequently, the suspects initiated negotiations with the victim's family and colleagues, demanding 15 million pesos for his release.
After being kidnapped in the parking lot of a mall in Pasay City on July 31, the Chinese victim filed a complaint with the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG).
At the time, the victim was blindfolded and taken to the PDEA office in Angeles, Pampanga. The victim expressed surprise at being fingerprinted on charges of alleged drug sales. He was then taken to a jail in Angeles City on August 10, prompting his relatives to report the incident to the PNP-AKG.
On August 16, the victim testified that his wife transferred 1.3 million pesos to an account, not including the 300,000 pesos taken from him by the suspects.
Authorities have obtained CCTV footage of the suspects taking the victim away, and the PDEA has assured cooperation with the Department of Justice's special task force on anti-kidnapping in the preliminary investigation of the incident.
The statement read: "Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency remains committed to fulfilling its duties within the bounds of the law."
