MANILA — The recent kidnapping of a student from Taguig is a “criminal offshoot” of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), which have been banned in the country, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Wednesday, hours after he confirmed the victim's rescue.

The victim’s parents and the kidnappers had been conversing in Chinese via WeChat, a messaging app popular among those from mainland China, Remulla told reporters in Malacañang.

“We suspect na ang biktima ay galing sa pamilya na nago-operate ng POGO… We are definitely sure na ang sindikato na nasa likod ng kidnapping ay former operators ng POGO din,” he said.

(We suspect that the victim is from a family that operates POGOs...we are definitely sure the syndicate behind this kidnapping are former POGO operators)

He said authorities are sure the syndicate is still in the country.

Gov't rescues missing 14-yr-old boy

The student was left on a roadside in Parañaque City this week after authorities closed in on the kidnappers, Remulla said.

The Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) was able to trace the identities, cellphone numbers and casing plans of the perpetrators from evidence recovered from an abandoned vehicle in Bulacan, where the body of the victim’s driver was found, the DILG chief said.

Remulla said that the kidnapping syndicate used former bodyguards who had gone absent without leave from the military and police.

“We will make sure that they will be neutralized at the soonest possible time,” he said as he vowed justice for the victim's family.

Remulla said the kidnappers cut off the victim's right pinky finger and made him sing his younger sibling’s favorite song in a video that was sent to his parents as proof of life.

He said the kidnappers had demanded ransom of $20 million (more than P1.1 billion), adding the syndicate was motivated by money and not revenge.

“It is a criminal offshoot ng POGO operations dito.”

POGOs were originally meant to service Chinese gamblers betting online and were touted as a good source of tax revenues.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered them shut down and banned last year over incidents of human trafficking, abuse, and torture at some POGO facilities.

POGO ops persist: CIDG forms tracking team to target covert activities

 PRIMARY SUSPECT

The primary suspect in the kidnapping scheme is a Chinese national, who is also wanted for a shooting incident in a restaurant in Makati in October 2024, Remulla said.

A certain Wang Dan Yu, also known as Bao Long, was identified as the suspect in the fatal shooting of another Chinese national in a hotpot restaurant in Makati last year.

A P2-million reward has been offered for any information that will lead to the arrest of the 29-year-old Wang since last year.

He said authorities already identified the members of the syndicate and the locations of their hideout and safe houses.

Authorities have retrieved a “matrix” that outlines the operations of the kidnapping syndicate, Remulla said.

"So expect in the next few days ay magiintensify kami ng drive para mahuli sila lahat.”

(So expect that we will; intensify our drive to arrest them in the next few days)

PNP: Crime down nearly 22%

Crimes have dropped by nearly 22 percent nationwide in the first 46 days of 2025 compared to the same period last year, data from the PNP showed.

All robbery and theft incidents went down, while homicide cases “went a little up,” data showed.

Since the start of 2025, the PNP has recorded eight kidnapping incidents. Five of these cases have been resolved, while three others are still being investigated, data from the PNP-AKG showed.

Authorities are tracing at least five kidnapping syndicates in the Philippines, 90 percent of which are operated by foreigners, said Col. Elmer Ragay, director of the PNP-AKG.

“We have neutralized some of the members. Itong mga at large ang trinatrabaho natin (We are working on the rest who are still at large),” he said.

In 2024, the PNP recorded 32 kidnapping incidents, 17 of which were solved.