The Minister of the Department of the Interior and Local Government of the Philippines, Jonvic Remulla, and the police are well-versed in the current attention economy, revealing information about the kidnapping of Chinese students involving finger chopping daily, as if squeezing toothpaste.
Remulla and the police stated that the suspect, Wang Dan Yu, also known as "Bao Long," a Chinese national fugitive wanted by both Chinese and Philippine governments for murder, carjacking, and kidnapping for ransom, is suspected of kidnapping a 14-year-old Chinese student.
The name "Wang Dan Yu" or "Bao Long" is well-known among the Chinese community in the Philippines. Around 2 AM on October 17, 2024, he emptied his magazine and shot a Chinese victim dead in a Chinese hotpot restaurant in Makati City, Metro Manila. The cold-blooded murder was captured and went viral online.
Following the incident, the Southern Police District and Makati police immediately organized a manhunt team.
Makati police public information officer Jenibeth Artista disclosed: "The victim was shot four times, in the left arm, right palm, and the fatal shot was a bullet that entered through the left chest. The Chinese suspect named 'Wang Dan Yu,' who also used the alias 'Bao Long,' has been in the Philippines since December 2019 and is a fugitive wanted by the Chinese government... In 2022, he was related to a carjacking case in Pasig City and was arrested but released on bail, thus he was included in the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order and banned from leaving the country. There is no record of him having left the Philippines."
On October 24, 2024, the Southern Police District reported that an unnamed intermediary businessman offered a reward of 2 million pesos for any information that could help immediately arrest the perpetrator of the crime that occurred around 2:30 AM on October 17 in a Chinese hotpot restaurant in Makati City.
The vehicle driven by Wang Dan Yu on the day of the incident was later found abandoned in an empty lot in Parañaque City, Metro Manila, and the police are currently tracking and verifying the vehicle's registration.
The police further disclosed that Wang Dan Yu is also wanted by the Jinjiang City Public Security Bureau for involvement in a kidnapping case; moreover, his passport has been revoked by the Chinese government. It is still unclear whether the kidnapping case for which Wang Dan Yu is wanted by the Jinjiang City Public Security Bureau occurred in China or the Philippines, but it is highly likely to have occurred in the Philippines.
There are rumors that Wang Dan Yu was a subordinate of Zhang Xiaolong, the leader of a Northeast gang kidnapper gang who was killed in July 2022, and had committed murders, kidnappings, and drug-related crimes, but many people knew him.
The way Wang Dan Yu operates is very similar to that of the Northeast gang kidnapper gang. As mentioned earlier, being wanted by the Jinjiang City Public Security Bureau is an important characteristic of this gang. Various signs indicate that Wang Dan Yu was probably also a member of this gang, and he was one of the most ferocious.
The reason Wang Dan Yu could act so brazenly in the Philippines is clearly because many people provided him with various conveniences for committing crimes, hiding, disposing of stolen goods, and laundering money. Otherwise, he would have difficulty moving a step in the Philippines.
Now, this mad dog has become a public enemy in the Philippines, and the Jinjiang overseas Chinese community there is also searching for his whereabouts everywhere. Facing the encirclement, Wang Dan Yu is becoming increasingly dangerous and reckless. At this time, those around Wang Dan Yu and those still harboring and protecting him, providing various conveniences, should weigh their options carefully.
