According to Philippine media reports, recently, a Chinese man suspected of operating a POGO business was kidnapped in Parañaque City. A group of armed individuals posing as police officers broke into his residence and forcibly took him away. Currently, the whereabouts of the man are unknown, and his fate remains uncertain.
Surveillance footage from the scene shows six suspects wearing vests with "police" inscribed on them arriving at the villa area in a Toyota Coaster van. They quickly disarmed two security guards and entered the target house, completing the entire operation in about 30 minutes.
As explained by Eric Angustia, the chief of Parañaque City Police, the suspects entered the villa area at 3:20 PM and left by 3:50 PM. During this time, two of the suspects directly handcuffed the victim and took him away.
The investigation revealed that one of the kidnappers was a former security guard of the villa area, who had been seen contacting the victim's current security guards a few days before the incident. Angustia stated, "These two guards have been confirmed as accomplices in the case, and we have now arrested them." The two involved guards, after being arrested, refused to disclose more information, only stating that they would have their lawyers respond on their behalf.
The victim is a Chinese businessman, suspected to be the head of a POGO company in Parañaque City. The police initially believe that the case may be related to the POGO business, but no ransom demands have been received yet.
According to Angustia, such kidnappings targeting Chinese citizens are often related to debt disputes or competition within the POGO industry, usually accompanied by ransom demands. However, the mastermind and specific motives of this incident are still under investigation.
The police stated that there are still seven suspects on the run, including the former security guard, and they are actively pursuing them. Moreover, the identity of the mastermind behind the kidnapping has not yet been determined. The specific whereabouts and condition of the victim also remain unknown.
This case not only exposes the potential risks of the POGO industry to the public eye once again but also highlights the rampant extent of criminals impersonating law enforcement officers to commit crimes. The Parañaque police have strengthened local security measures and urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities promptly.
