Four Chinese men were arrested yesterday after they allegedly tried to kidnap a Filipino teenager in Makati City on Saturday.
The suspects have been identified as Zhi Lin, Shi Jun Yi, Chen Sujo, and Xiaohui Sun. Two of their suspected accomplices escaped during the arrest, Manila Bulletin reports.
According to the 18-year-old victim, identified as Gella Velasco, one of the suspects grabbed her by the arm while she was waiting for a taxi at about 10pm on Einstein Street in the city’s village of San Isidro, according to ABS-CBN News. She fought off her kidnappers and ran away, then reported the crime to several village watchmen, who arrested four of the six suspects, the Philippine Star reports.
Makati City police are still searching for the two other suspects.
Last month, netizens were shocked by a viral video showing a woman being abducted in Makati. The police confirmed that a kidnapping did take place, and identified several Chinese nationals as suspects, all of whom were working in a Philippine offshore gaming company.
However, after the victim was inexplicably released, she and her husband, both of whom are also Chinese, said they were unwilling to cooperate with the police. Makati police said they will continue with their investigation despite the couple’s decision.
It was also last month that Makati Mayor Abby Binay said that her government would indefinitely stop issuing business permits to POGOs because they have allegedly led to an increase in crime.
