A Chinese and two Korean men kidnapped in Manila were rescued from a safehouse in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Guiguinto, Bulacan on Oct. 16.
Chinese national Liu Xia and Korean nationals Park Pan-ho and Yeum Sun-ki were kidnapped on separate occasions, when they failed to pay back gambling debts.
Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao, head of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group, said they conducted rescue operations after the South Korean embassy reported the kidnapping of Yeum.
Police conducted a stakeout and entered the safehouse after monitoring the movements of its occupants.
Alleged kidnap gang leader Ernesto Marella, 55, owner of the safehouse; his partner Florida Dionisio, 34; Alexander Dionisio, 30; Jomar dela Peña, 29; Raymond dela Peña, 22, and Ferdie Dionisio, 32, all of Balanga, Bataan, were arrested.
Dumlao said Marella was engaged in money lending in several casinos and the victims were among his clients.
He said the kidnappers refused to release Liu and Yeum even after they had paid P500,000 and P800,000, respectively.
The suspects were charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention before the Department of Justice on Oct. 19.
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Chinese, 2 Koreans rescued from captors in Bulacan
