2-11-2023 (MANILA) Philippine authorities are actively searching for six Chinese nationals who were abducted in the capital region earlier this week, according to police reports on Thursday.
Cosme Abrenica, the anti-kidnapping chief of the police, stated that an investigation is underway regarding the abduction of nine individuals on Monday in an affluent neighborhood in southern Metro Manila. Among the victims, six were Chinese nationals who remain missing, while three were Filipinos who were fortunately released shortly after being abducted.
“We currently have no information regarding whether this is a case of kidnap-for-ransom, kidnapping, or any other motive. We have yet to establish the details,” Abrenica commented.
Abrenica refrained from disclosing the identities of the victims or providing any specific information regarding their status in the Philippines.
Philip Aguilar, the police chief of Calauan town where the Filipino victims were recovered, shared that one of the survivors informed them that the kidnappers forcibly entered their residence before dawn on Monday.
The Chinese embassy in Manila acknowledged receiving a request from Reuters for comment but did not provide further details.
Although the motive behind this week’s kidnapping remains unknown, it is worth noting that China has previously expressed concerns to the Philippines about its citizens being enticed to work in online gaming firms and subsequently falling victim to fraud, extortion, and what they describe as “modern slavery.”
