DOJ JUNKS CASE VS 30 FOREIGNERS TAGGED IN SINGAPOREAN’S KIDNAPPING

Thirty of the 44 foreigners, mostly Chinese, who were arrested for allegedly abducting a Singaporean tourist have been ordered freed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) after it dismissed the kidnapping charges against them for lack of evidence.

The aliens were rounded up by personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in separate operations in Pasay City last week.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said they were suspected to be members of a kidnap-for-ransom syndicate targeting foreigners who are known to be high-rollers in upscale casinos in Metro Manila.

Acting prosecutor general Jorge Catalan Jr. approved the dismissal of the criminal complaint for lack of probable cause after the victim, Singaporean Wu Yan, failed to identify them as among those who supposedly kidnapped her from Solaire Resorts and Casino.

“Not an iota of evidence was presented to show that they conspired with the alleged kidnappers of … Wu Yan. Not even a single act can be imputed against them,” read the July 20 resolution of assistant state prosecutor Philip dela Cruz, a copy of which was released to the media on Tuesday.