Philippines Police Arrests 43 Involved In Kidnappings At Casinos

In a major clean out of kidnapping gangs that target the wealthy foreigners in Manila, Philippines Police have made several arrests.

The case came to notice after the abduction of Wu Yan, a 48-year-old Singaporean woman on July 17. Yan was playing baccarat at Solaire Resorts and Casino in Pasay City, Metro Manila where she was approached by two men who befriended her and requested her to join them at another casino.

Yan, unaware of the intentions of the two men left the casino with them in a rented car and was taken to a rented property in Paranaque City where she was held for ransom for four days. Yan was beaten and was forced to make a video pleading to her family in Singapore to send $180,000 for her release.

Wu was rescued in a police raid that led to the arrest of 43 suspects. The woman identified 14 of those arrested as her kidnappers who included three men accused of being ring leaders. Two of whom; Ng Yu Meng and Goh Kok Keong were Malaysians and a Chinese national Zhang Fuxing.

According to Glenn Dumlao, Head PNP’s Anti-Kidnapping unit, the gang operated in a group of four looking out for the victims on the casino floors. Of all the arrests made were foreigners, 2 Malaysians and 41 Chinese national, many of whom were illegally in the country.

The case brings out poorly on the public relations for the Philippines casino industry, after the last month attack on Resorts World Manila, leaving 37 people dead.