Police in Bohol rescued a Chinese businesswoman from her alleged kidnappers during a rescue operation in Panglao, Bohol on Tuesday morning, October 24,2023. | Contributed photo via Paul Lauro
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A Chinese businesswoman was rescued by authorities a day after she was allegedly kidnapped in Barangay Poblacion, Panglao town in Bohol on Tuesday morning, October 24, 2023.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7), told reporters that the victim was ‘safe and sound.’
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Operation to rescue kidnapped Chinese businesswoman
Pelare said that the rescue operation also resulted to the arrest of her suspected kidnappers.
“Safe and sound ang atong biktima. Ug ang suspects pud, nadakpan,” he said.
(The victim is safe and sound. And the suspects were also arrested.)
Four Chinese nationals
According to Pelare, six persons were arrested by police operatives: four are Chinese Nationals and two are Filipino citizens.
The alleged kidnapping for ransom was reported to the Bohol police on Monday, October 23.
The victim, identified as a 53-year-old businesswoman from Jiangsu Province in China, was last seen on Monday.
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Ransom asked, ransom paid
According to Pelare, the suspected kidnappers called the victim‘s family to demand a ransom in exchange for the woman’s freedom.
He said that the victim’s family then sent the ransom money to the kidnappers through bank transfer.
Tracking team
Meanwhile, the police immediately formed a tracking team and conducted a deeper investigation after receiving the report to rescue the victim.
“Naghimo dayon og tracking team pinangulohan sa atong Police Intelligence Unit (PIU) ug inabagan sa mga unit sa Bohol PPO,” said Pelare.
(A tracking team was then formed led by our Police Intelligence Unit (PIU) and supported by the unit of the Bohol PPO (Provincial Police Office).)
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Intelligence monitoring
As part of their efforts to safely bring the victim home, the operatives also conducted intelligence monitoring and backtracking of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in different areas.
The operation was conducted at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, with the victim rescued and the suspected kidnappers apprehended.
According to Pelare, the victim is now safely in the custody of police and is being assessed for any effects of the incident to her health.
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Organized kidnapping group
He said that the arrested persons were believed to be members of an organized kidnapping group.
Initial investigation showed that the arrested suspects were from Pasay City, Manila, who came to Bohol Province with the intention to commit kidnapping.
Pelare said that the group, with the two Filipinos acting as the drivers, monitored the victim before allegedly kidnapping her and taking her somewhere else.
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Kidnapped Chinese businesswoman monitored
“Presumably, gi-studyhan ang iyahang lihok. Gitan-aw pud og unsay iyang assets. Mao nang kaning mga suspects, they were actually very organized,” he said.
(Presumably, they studied her movements. They also looked at what her assets are. That is what the suspects were, they were actually very organized.)
Police recovered from the suspects two .45 caliber pistols and two vehicles including the vehicle that was owned by the victim, said Pelare.
He said that the police were preparing to file appropriate charges against the alleged suspects.
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Criminals warned
Pelare also warned individuals, who planned to commit crimes in the region to remember that police would always be ready to respond.
“Ang atong message sa mga nagplano og dautan, labi na nga magvictimize sa mga turista ug sa mga foreigner diri, dili mo pwede magbuhat ana diri sa Central Visayas because we have a police force nga abtik ug andam moresponde ug mosolve ani nga mga insidente,” he said.
(Our message to those who plan to do bad things, especially those who would victimize tourists and the foreigners here, you cannot do that here in Central Visayas because we have a police force who are very active and ready to respond and to solve these kinds of incidents.)