Makati kidnap victim’s live-in partner shows up at police station

The live-in partner of the Chinese woman believed to have been kidnapped in Makati on Monday presented himself to the authorities on Wednesday.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras", Makati police investigators have spoken to Chen Tangbin, the live-in partner and one of two persons of interest in the suspected kidnapping case.

“Tinanong namin siya kung nasaan siya. Nag-validate kami kung nandoon nga siya doon sa kanyang mga binabanggit na lugar and it turned out negative,” Makati Police chief Police Colonel Rogelio Simon said.

“If you are the immediate family of the victim hindi ganyan 'yung actions mo e. Dapat nakikipagtulungan ka na sa kapulisan,” he added.

Chen said he and the victim worked at a Philippine offshore gaming operation.

The suspected kidnapping incident was caught on video on Monday night. 

Witnesses said they saw the victim walking with two other people.

All three entered a gray van, but the victim was later seen trying to get out of the vehicle.

The van sped away after the woman was forced back inside.

Several documents fell out of the vehicle, including a deed of sale between the two live-in partners and a certain Zhu Jianwei, the second person of interest in the case.

According to Simon, Chen vowed to coordinate with authorities and planned to file a complaint against Zhu.

“‘On what grounds?' sabi ko. So parang meron silang idea at meron silang information na hawak hawak at alam nila itong parte ni Jianwei Zhiu ang may hawak dun sa asawa,” Simon said.

Makati police conducted a stakeout in a subdivision on the boundary of Las Piñas and Parañaque on Tuesday night after they received reports that the gray van was found there.

However, police later learned that the plate number used by the van was for a different vehicle.

Authorities are now examining a piece of plastic containing a bar code that fell from the van.

Simon said police had received reports of alleged kidnapping of Chinese nationals in Makati in the past, but the cases often ended in a demand for ransom.

“Ito ‘yung first time talaga na tinutukan namin at kino-consider namin na merong abduction na nangyari,” Simon said.

The Makati Police has not yet received a ransom demand in relation to the incident. —Julia Mari Ornedo/NB, GMA News