Recently, a Chinese student from the prestigious "British School Manila" was kidnapped last week after leaving the campus located in Bonifacio Global City (BGC, a new development area between Taguig City and Makati City in Metro Manila). The student was picked up by a family driver. The victim's family resides in McKinley Hill Village, a well-known upscale residential area adjacent to BGC in Taguig City.
According to online reports, the victim, a 14-year-old Malaysian Chinese named Andy Wan, was allegedly kidnapped on February 20. The family reported the incident to the police on February 21.
It is reported that the Starex vehicle in which the victim was traveling was found in Bulacan province, and the driver was found dead (pending confirmation). Subsequently, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 20 million US dollars after cutting off the boy's little finger and filming videos and photos. The police suggest that the kidnappers might be linked to remnants of offshore gambling operations.
According to online photos, the kidnapped Chinese student was released back home after the family paid the ransom.
The British School Manila is the oldest and only non-profit international school in Manila offering British education. It is currently working closely with the student's family and relevant authorities to assist in the investigation of the kidnapping. The "British School" also has branches in other cities in the Philippines and is considered a high-end international school.
In a previous statement, the school confirmed the incident but did not disclose further details, urging the public to avoid speculation and to respect the privacy of the student's family during this difficult time.
The school principal, Martin Van Der Linde, stated: "We understand that this news may cause unease, and our counseling team is ready to support the students." He also mentioned that they are closely cooperating with the student's family and the police to assist in the investigation.
From the British School Manila to McKinley Hill Village where the victim's family resides, it is only a mere 4.3 kilometers, a drive that takes at most 12 minutes. The fact that the boy was kidnapped in such a short time while in his own car and under the protection of the driver indicates that the kidnappers had been targeting the boy for some time. They had precise knowledge of the boy's age, appearance, daily routine, travel routes, vehicle, school, and home address. This indicates that the kidnapping gang is among the professional groups in the Philippines.
This case, unlike most kidnapping cases in the Philippines in recent years, bears many similarities to the sensational kidnapping of Li Zeju, the son of Li Ka-shing, by Cheung Tze-keung. Moreover, the ransom of 20 million US dollars is relatively high for kidnapping cases in the Philippines in recent years.
The Chinese communities in Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, and Singapore have closer ties. It is very likely that the victim's family moved from Hong Kong or Macau to Malaysia and then to the Philippines.
Scenarios such as cutting fingers, chopping arms, and kidnapping children are common in Hong Kong police and gangster films.
Many Malaysian Chinese are major players in the Southeast Asian online gambling industry. For a long time, the gangs from Hong Kong and Macau have had intricate and tangled relationships with the Southeast Asian online gambling and money laundering industries.
In cases like this, where ransom is paid and the victim is successfully rescued, there is usually a powerful underworld figure acting as a mediator between the parties, ensuring the release of the hostage after the ransom is paid.
