Police confirmed the Makati kidnapping victim abducted on Monday night along Paseo de Roxas was a Chinese woman working at a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators).
According to the Makati City Police-Investigation Division, the victim was identified as Zhou Mei, 28, a POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) worker.
Police are investigating the possible involvement of the victim’s live-in partner, Cheng Tangbin after several documents including a ‘deed of sale’ with Cheng’s name on it was recovered at the crime scene.
According to reports, the abduction took place at the corner of Paseo de Roxas Avenue and Nieva Street opposite the Salustiana D. Ty Building in the city at 9 pm on Monday. Several witnesses saw the victim dragged by three men inside a gray Kia Carnival van (LSA 880) and then drove off.
Several witnesses obtained a cellphone video of the incident, and it posted on Facebook. It immediately went viral due to the kidnapping issues spread across Metro Manila.
Police confirm Makati kidnapping victim a POGO worker
In a Makati City Police follow-up investigation, Investigation chief, PMaj Gideon Ines Jr., said the victim voluntarily entered the van but went down again. It was then that the three male suspects dragged her inside the van.
The suspects left deed of sale documents in which Cheng Tangbing’s name was identified.
Police went to Cheng’s condominium building in Legaspi Village just a few meters away from the abduction scene, but the Chinese national was no longer there. The guard said Cheng was rushing out of the building because of an alleged transaction.
When the driver’s license plate was verified at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), it was learned that it was registered to a Mitsubishi L300 and not a Kia Carnival.
Investigations revealed that either or both Zhou and Cheng owed a large sum of money from fellow Chinese.