Kidnapped Korean, Indian nationals rescued

Police rescued a South Korean businessman and an Indian medical student in separate anti-kidnapping operations in Pasay and Las Piñas, law enforcement officials announced Wednesday.

Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) director Brig. Gen. Edwin Balles reported that officers rescued a 41-year-old South Korean businessman in Pasay City on Tuesday.

Investigators said at least seven men in a silver SUV intercepted the victim while he was driving along Roxas Boulevard near Vicente Sotto Street, forcing him into their vehicle. The abductors immediately contacted the victim’s close friend and demanded a P30 million ransom.

Balles cited that the victim’s family electronically transferred approximately P550,000 in a combination of Philippine pesos and the cryptocurrency Tether. Abductors released the victim shortly after in Kawit, Cavite, before he made his way back to Pasay City.

Police did not specify why the victim was released before the full ransom was paid.

The victim reported overhearing someone identify themselves as a police officer while held captive, an assertion Balles said remains under investigation.

Authorities are working to identify the abductors and trace the financial accounts used for the ransom transfer.

In a separate operation on 5 September, anti-kidnapping officers rescued a 24-year-old Indian medical student along Alabang-Zapote Road in Las Pinas.

Police arrested five suspects — all Indian nationals aged 24 to 26 and schoolmates of the victim — after catching them attempting to retrieve ransom funds. The victim had been abducted from his Las Piñas apartment on 3 September.

His brother reported him missing 4 September after receiving a P250,000 ransom demand.

The victim’s family transferred 80,000 Indian rupees (roughly P52,500) into the suspects’ bank accounts and deposited an additional P150,000 at an automated teller machine along Alabang-Zapote Road.

Balles disclosed that the suspects abducted the student after he refused to allow them to use his cryptocurrency e-wallet for criminal activities. The victim suffered physical abuse during his captivity, including an ear injury requiring surgery.

The five arrested suspects are in police custody and face inquest proceedings for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.