Police rescue two abducted Chinese POGO workers in Taguig

October 4, 2019

Police rescued two abducted Chinese POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator) employees in Taguig City which resulted in the arrest of eight suspects last Wednesday.

Philippine National Police- Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Elmer Cereno identified the victims as Wang Zhe, 21 and Zhang Jia, 32, who were former employees of Di Wang Online Gaming at Invech Treasure building in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Cereno said the operation was done after one of the victim's friends sought police assistance.

The victims were abducted around 4:30 pm last September 27 near Hotel 101 in Pasay City using a white Toyota van. They were brought to their office asking their families in China to pay 80,000 renminbi for their release.

Five suspects were Chinese including the company owner, and three were Filipinos, all working at the POGO establishment.

They were pinpointed by the victims.

AKG- Luzon Field Unit operatives went to the establishment around 2 am where they coordinated with security and utility officers.

"However, instead of  assisting the AKG operatives  in rescuing the victims,  they interfered and prevented  them," said Cereno.

After two hours of negotiation with the help of the company's interpreter and the building administrator they rescued the victims.

"The victims revealed that on September 16, they left the company after they realized they were working in online gaming which is illegal in China," the AKG spokesperson said.

This resulted in the victims using fixers to process their travel documents in the Chinese Embassy.

When they were about to get there documents near 101 Hotel, they were abducted and handcuffed by Chinese suspects, while demanding ransom  from their family. 

"According to them, on September 28, until September 30, after series of negotiation with their families thru We Chat. Their families transferred money (in) the amount of 68,000.00 renminbi and 219,000.00 renminbi," said Cereno.

"Despite of payment of ransom, victims were not released, but instead (they) demanded again additional ransom payment," he added.

The five Chinese suspects were charged for kidnapping for ransom with serious illegal detention and the Filipinos for obstruction of justice. Ella Dionisio/DMS