RESCUED. Authorities rescue a Chinese woman who was kidnapped by a police officer and his brother at a hotel in Pasay City early Monday (Sept. 4, 2023). The National Capital Region Police Officer said the victim was abducted by the suspects at around 10:48 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 3). (Photo courtesy of NCRPO PIO)
MANILA – Pasay City Police personnel rescued a Chinese woman allegedly kidnapped by two siblings, one of whom is a police officer, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Monday.
In a report, NCRPO director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said Zhou Yunqiing, 26, was abducted by Staff Sgt. Lordgin Antonino, 34; and his brother Nelson, 20, at around 10:48 p.m. Sunday.
Nartatez said the police received information on the incident around 1 a.m. on Monday from the victim’s friend, Malaysian Law Yi Wei, 34, who is living at a condominium complex in Pasay City.
Wei appeared before the Pasay police substation 3 in Libertad to seek assistance regarding his friend who was taken by the suspects who posed as operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for an alleged case of human trafficking.
Wei also said the victim was detained inside a room at Qing Qing Hotel in Pasay City.
He also showed a photo of the victim who was then handcuffed and a photo of a police ID bearing the name "PMSG John Reggie Reyes" as well as the text message from the suspects who asked for PHP500,000 in exchange for the woman's release.
Authorities launched an operation at the hotel and saw Lordgin, who matched the description on the police ID shown by Wei, sitting at the lobby of the establishment.
When the police approached the suspect, he identified himself as a police officer assigned at the CIDG Pasay and claimed that he was involved in an operation at the hotel.
However, police arrested Lordgin after verifying with the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) of SPD that the unit was not conducting any operation at the establishment at that time.
Police officers proceeded to a room at the hotel where they rescued the victim and arrested the police officer’s brother.
The police officer yielded a 9mm Taurus with serial number TBW77621 classified as a property of the Philippine National Police, a police ID, wallet, 14 PHP1,000 bills; five assorted identification cards and a mobile phone. (PNA)
