Philippines arrests 45 for kidnap of Singaporean woman

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - Forty-five Chinese and Malaysian nationals were arrested Tuesday in Parañaque City in Manila for allegedly kidnapping a Singaporean woman who frequented a local casino, a report said.

According to Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao, a resident and security guards at a condominium reportedly saw someone’s feet dangling from a unit’s terrace, ABS-CBN News reported.

In a bid to escape, the victim tried to open the door on the terrace using her feet but was dragged away by one of her captors.

She had been reportedly missing since Monday, and kidnappers had asked for PHP9 million ($177,357) from her family.

Dumlao said the Chinese and Malaysians, who were arrested by the Philippine National Police-Anti Kidnapping Group, were allegedly involved in loan shark activities.

Members of the syndicate frequent casinos, pretend to be players and seek out victims, whom they will offer loans, Dumlao added.

The victims are not forcibly taken because they voluntarily accompany the group, who befriend them and persuade them to move from one casino to another.

Once heavily in debt, the syndicate make threats and abducts the victim for ransom, Dumlao added.

It is the seventh loan shark syndicate kidnapping case in the Philippines since last month, the report added.