The Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) held a press conference on the morning of February 26th to report the latest developments in the kidnapping case of a 14-year-old Chinese student at an international school in BGC, Metro Manila.
According to the report by the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG), on the evening of February 25th, the police launched a rescue operation on Macapagal Blvd in Parañaque City, successfully rescuing the student and safely escorting him back to his family. The victim is currently undergoing a physical examination at a private hospital in Taguig City, and his condition is stable.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of February 20th, when the student did not return home on time after school. His family reported him missing an hour later. Surveillance footage retrieved by the police showed that the vehicle carrying the student was abandoned about 10 kilometers from the school on C5 Road, with no one inside and the driver's whereabouts unknown.
On February 21st, the police found another vehicle related to the case in the town of San Rafael, Bulacan Province, about 70 kilometers from BGC. Shockingly, the murdered driver was found inside the vehicle, along with several key pieces of evidence, including fake police uniforms, IDs, and multiple mobile phones. Further investigation led the police to track down the kidnappers.
After the case was exposed, some social media reports claimed that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of up to 20 million US dollars from the victim's family, providing a video of the victim's finger being cut off during the threat, and demanding prompt payment.
At the press conference, the Philippine police confirmed that the kidnappers initially demanded 20 million US dollars, but later reduced the amount to 1 million dollars. However, under the intense pursuit by the police, the kidnappers eventually failed to extort the money and abandoned the child on the roadside, fortunately, the police discovered and rescued the victim in time.
Philippine President Marcos convened an emergency meeting on February 26th, demanding that the Department of the Interior and law enforcement agencies make every effort to apprehend the criminal gang involved. He stated firmly: "Now that we have identified the kidnappers, we must take immediate action."
The Interior Minister Remulla revealed at the press conference that the case might involve the Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) industry and e-commerce transactions. Although there is no concrete evidence yet that the case was motivated by retaliation, the police suspect it is related to financial or debt disputes, and the specific motive is still under investigation.
Furthermore, Remulla pointed out that the police have fully identified the kidnappers, one of the main suspects had previously fired several shots at a compatriot in a private room of a restaurant in Makati City last year, involving serious violent crimes.
He stated: "We have their identities, residences, and hiding spots. In the coming days, we will intensify our pursuit to ensure they are brought to justice."
Shockingly, Remulla also disclosed that the kidnapping group was led by Chinese nationals, who had been involved in multiple kidnappings and violent crimes in the past, with some accomplices already arrested. Additionally, the investigation found that some Philippine police officers and soldiers had abandoned their posts and even acted as bodyguards for the criminal gang, helping them evade capture.
The PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group noted that there are at least five active kidnapping criminal groups within the Philippines, and the police are monitoring them and strengthening law enforcement actions to prevent similar cases from occurring again.
As the investigation into the case deepens, the Philippine government is intensifying efforts to combat foreign-related crimes, aiming to improve public safety and strengthen the supervision of the offshore gaming industry and related personnel.
