Never borrow something you can’t pay back because it could cost you your life.
Two Taiwanese casino players were rescued from their Chinese captors in Las Piñas City on Tuesday after they were allegedly kidnapped for their failure to pay back their debt.
Manila Bulletin identified the victims as Shang Chang Ping and Hua Pin Yuan.
They were allegedly kidnapped by a group composed of Gou Zhikun, Xiao Tze, Wang Weiping, Ma Zhao, Yang Huang, and Lu Xiangquan, reported the Philippine Star.
According to People’s Tonight, the victims were held captive at 189 Daisy Rd. cor. Marygold Rd. in Pilar Village.
At around 5pm on Tuesday, the police conducted a surveillance operation at the location where they noticed a man who tossed a piece of paper, where the word “Help” was written.
The police then swooped into the house and arrested the suspects.
They also recovered a Mitsubishi Montero, which was allegedly used to kidnap the victims; duct tape; chains, credit cards; cellphones, several passports; and PHP12,000 (US$226.87).
According to Las Piñas City police chief Senior Superintendent Simnar Gran, the victims were allegedly kidnapped by the suspects on Dec. 2.
Gou allegedly called Shang’s family to demand PHP7 million (US$132,399) in exchange for his and Hua’s release. The victims allegedly lost their money at a casino, which is why they could not pay back the suspects.
This is not the first time foreigners were kidnapped by loan sharks in the Philippines.
In July, the police rescued a Chinese national at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City who was allegedly kidnapped by his debtors.
Even President Rodrigo Duterte is aware of the kidnapping incidents. Last month, he told cops not to hang out in casinos because that’s where many kidnappings occur.
