Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

Two Chinese nationals were recently kidnapped in separate incidents by their fellow Chinese who pretended to be engaged in a business venture in the Philippines.

One of the victims, Kuangdi Shi, was abducted this month, and police have obtained a cellphone video showing Shi held at gunpoint by the kidnappers.

According to PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) Director Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, the video was shown to the victim's family, with the abductors demanding a P2.4-million ransom last January 18.

Shi had initially been enticed by the kidnappers to invest in their supposed business venture or get employed.

"Narelease itong si Kuangdi Shi at nagfile ng complaint sa amin. Nagkaroon kami ng backtracking at nakakuha kami ng CCTV footage. Sabi ng guwardiya, alam niyang nakabillet ang mga ito [kidnappers] sa Shell Residences [malapit] sa MOA (Mall of Asia)," Dumlao said.

Investigation showed that Shi was enticed by suspects Cheng Liu and Weitao Luo to invest in a business, and they kidnapped him as soon as they got his trust.

The PNP-AKG said this is the same group that kidnapped Kate Lui last January 25.

According to Lui, the group befriended her and offered her employment.

"They want to introduce some job for me, I just want to talk with them about the job…like translator to a document company," she said.

Grab driver "Dario" (not his real name) said the suspects rode his vehicle going to Ternate, Cavite the night Lui was kidnapped.

"Akala ko po magkakaibigan sila kasi ang tagal nilang nagko- kwentuhan, matagal, at nang papunta na kami sa Ternate, yung isang Chinese ay pinosasan ang babae. E hindi naman ako nakialam kasi 'di ko alam ang pinag uusapan nila. Pagdating namin sa Ternate, tinanong ko bakit pinosasan, ang sabi, kailangan daw nila ng pera," the driver said.

The suspects brought Lui to the resort and told the Grab driver not to report the incident to the police.

"Kinunan nila ako ng picture tapos sabi 'wag daw magsumbong sa pulis," the driver added.

Lui's husband paid the kidnappers more than P900,000 in ransom. She was rescued in the resort but the kidnappers were nowhere to be found.

"I just want[ed] to talk with them in Shell Residences but they kidnap[ped] me," Lui said.

In a follow-up operation, suspect Luo and his comrades were arrested in the condominium where they stayed.

Dumlao said the group was not a big syndicate, but it was able to victimize a lot of Chinese nationals.

"Sa dami na ng enterprising na mga Chinese na nandito na...at nagiiba sila ng modus. Gaya nito, wala naman utang yung babae, kunyari ay recruitment sila, na kailangan nila ng interpreter sa company nila kasi nga magbabase dito sa Pilipinas... yun pala kinidnap na noong sumama sa kanila," Dumlao said.

The PNP-AKG reminded foreigners in the country to be wary of people befriending them even if they are of the same nationality.