The Chairman of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Gutu Shi, revealed that the recent shocking case of the kidnapping of a Chinese student is suspected to be related to the "hitmen group" employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), who may be involved in kidnapping, extortion, and even murder.
In an interview, Gutu Shi stated that the police are investigating the background of the suspects, and the information currently available shows that the kidnappers belong to a violent group employed by POGO companies, consisting mostly of retired military personnel hired to carry out illegal tasks, including coercion, kidnapping, violent injury, and even murder.
"These people are the 'muscle' of the criminal group, specifically responsible for kidnapping and torturing victims, forcing them to pay ransom," Gutu Shi further pointed out that the criminals would record videos of the victims being abused to threaten their families to pay the ransom quickly.
The victim of this case is a 14-year-old Chinese student who was kidnapped on February 20 after school at the gate of an international school in Tayi City. A few days later, the family driver was found murdered, and the victim himself was found alive on February 25 near Macapagal Avenue in Balanyuji City.
The police investigation suspects that the mastermind behind this case is a Chinese fugitive—Wang Dan Yu, nicknamed "Baolong." Meanwhile, the Minister of the Interior, Zhong Mi · Li Wu Re, also revealed that the murdered driver might have colluded with the criminal suspect, but the specific circumstances are still under investigation.
However, the victim's mother firmly denies any connection between her family and POGO, stating that their main business is e-commerce. She also emphasized that the real target of the criminals might have been their driver, not her child. The case is still under further investigation.
