Philippine Authorities Successfully Rescue Foreign Student

Synopsis

On February 27, Philippine authorities announced the successful rescue of a 14-year-old foreign student kidnapped on February 20. The victim was found in Paranaque City, and no ransom was paid, despite the kidnappers' violent attempts to force payment. This incident highlights ongoing issues related to crime and illegal online gambling in the region.

Key Takeaways

14-year-old foreign student rescued.
Abducted on February 20 in Metro Manila.
Communicated via WeChat during the kidnapping.
No ransom was paid to the kidnappers.
Ongoing investigations into related crimes.

Manila, Feb 27 (NationPress) Philippine authorities successfully rescued a 14-year-old foreign student who was abducted on February 20 after attending school in Metro Manila, as reported by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Local officials revealed that the victim was discovered abandoned on a bustling street in Paranaque City on Tuesday night and was quickly taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Remulla indicated that the victim's family declined the ransom request; however, the Chinese-led kidnappers, which included former Filipino police and military personnel, deserted the teenager in a crowded area of metropolitan Manila when law enforcement closed in on their vehicle.

According to police, the abductors murdered the boy's driver and mutilated his right little finger to coerce his family into paying a substantial ransom.

The Interior Secretary informed the press that the student's family and the Chinese head of the kidnappers were allegedly former operators of lucrative online gambling businesses, which thrived during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte but were ordered to shut down last year by his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Remulla emphasized that no ransom was ultimately paid.

These online gambling establishments operated in the Philippines, Cambodia, and other Southeast Asian nations, attracting numerous clients from China, where gambling is illegal.

"This crime involved a Chinese perpetrator against another Chinese," Remulla stated, adding that the family and the kidnappers communicated using the WeChat app in Chinese.

With the closure of illegal gambling operations in the Philippines, some individuals resorted to other criminal activities, including kidnapping, he noted.

To pressure the boy's family into paying an initial ransom of $20 million (approximately £15.8 million), which was later negotiated down to $1 million (around £790,000), the kidnappers severed the tip of the victim's little finger and sent a video of this horrific act to his parents.

The boy's driver was found deceased in an abandoned vehicle, where vital evidence, including phone numbers, was recovered.

Officials noted that the suspects appeared to have attempted to leave the vehicle in a hurry, as indicated by Remulla.

Authorities mentioned that online cryptocurrency scams, alongside love and investment frauds, continue to pose a significant threat.

Local news outlets reported that this kidnapping is the eighth incident of the year, with five cases resolved and three remaining under investigation.