Police arrest 43 foreigners victimizing high rollers

Authorities have arrested 43 foreigners who are members of a loan shark syndicate targeting high rollers.

On Thursday, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa presented the suspects, mostly Chinese, at a press conference in Camp Crame.

The suspects, including 41 Chinese and two Malaysians, were arrested on July 18 after the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group rescued victim Wu Yan, 48, a Singaporean.

PNP chief Dela Rosa talks with the arrested suspects in the kidnapping of Singaporean national @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/Vd6Q5Jd6O6

— amitalegaspi (@amitalegaspi) July 20, 2017

The leader of the syndicate, also Chinese, is now the subject of a manhunt. 

“At large pa, isa,” PNP-AKG director Chief Superintendent Glenn Dumlao said during the press conference when asked where the leader of the syndicate is.

Dumlao refused to provide additional details, but a diagram later shown to the media identified the leader of the syndicate as a certain Chen DeQin.

Investigation showed that on July 17 while the victim was playing at Solaire Resorts and Casino in Pasay City, two Malaysian nationals later identified as Ng Yu Meng and Goh Kok Keong befriended her and later on invited her to play at a nearby casino resort.

Around 9:45 p.m., they boarded a taxi but instead of proceeding to the casino resort, the victim was brought to a condominium in Parañaque City.

There, the victim was held and asked to pay $180,000.00 in exchange for her freedom.

The following day, the PNP-AKG, Bureau of Immigration, and Parañaque police conducted the rescue operation.

Not the first case

Dumlao said this is not the first time that they handled such a case, adding that in June, they rescued a Chinese national held by a separate group.

“Nag-start nung June dahil sa rampant report about kidnapping and serious illegal detention sa mga players sa casino. We already conducted operations and rescued victim Wang Yan, who was held by separate cell, na-rescue natin yun at na-release last June 2,” he said.

Dumlao said they have also been receiving information from embassies.

“Through the email of the embassy, marami po silang ini-email sa amin since then, kaya lang nadi-delay yung pagdating ng email kaya ang ginagawa namin is direct investigation together with Parañaque police, dinidiretso namin yung mga hotel ... unfortunately nakauwi na yung isang biktima doon,” he said.

Dumlao said the loan sharks are targeting Chinese and Singaporean nationals, adding that the Chinese Embassy told him that their nationals are easy targets because gambling is forbidden in their country.

“Forbidden sin pala yung gambling sa kanila sa China so they are forewarned na kapag pumunta kayo sa Pilipinas o ibang bayan, you have many ways of spending your vacation, don’t gamble because you will not expect us to help you. Ganun sila,” he said.

“Doon pumapasok ito na kung pinapakita sa pamilya na sinasaktan itong biktima, may utang ito, parang immediately nagi-give in yung family,” he added.

Dumlao said the modus operandi is to befriend a high roller and offer loan to him or her so he or she can continue playing. When the loaned money is big enough, the members of the syndicate would tell the victim that they must go to other casinos.

But instead of going to another casino, the suspects would bring the victim to a hotel room where he or she will be detained and ransom will be demanded.

Charges of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention have been filed against the suspects during the inquest proceedings conducted at the PNP-AKG conference room and presided by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon, chairman of the Justice Department's Task Force on Anti-Kidnapping.

During the inquest proceedings, 14 respondents opted to go for a full-blown preliminary investigation where they would be asked to submit written defense to the complaints.

The complaints for the rest of the respondents would be submitted for resolution.

Solaire, which is owned by Bloomberry Resorts Corp, said on Thursday it does not tolerate loan sharks.

“Solaire continues to closely safeguard all its patrons to ensure their safety from unscrupulous personalities and activities even as it continues to coordinate and support government authorities in the fight against criminal activities,” it said in a statement. — with Reuters and Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News