PNP eyes 8 persons of interest in death of 2 Chinese businessmen

Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — Police are eyeing eight persons of interest (POIs) in the death of two Chinese businessmen who were suspected to have been kidnapped and whose remains were found in Camarines Sur last June 24.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said some of these POIs are Filipinos who fetched the victims at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on June 20.

READ: Remains of 2 kidnapped Chinese found in Camarines Sur

“We are looking into around eight POIs; some of them are Filipinos who picked the victims up at the airport, where their families last contacted them and were last seen alive,” Fajardo said in Filipino.

“From what I understand, the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) has already identified the main players in this case but appealed to us not to give too many details,” she added.

According to Fajardo, AKG is collating the pieces of evidence gathered against these POIs to file a complaint against them.

Investigation showed that the eight met the victims abroad and invited them to go and invest in the Philippines.

However, on June 21, the relatives received a P5-million ransom demand from still unknown assailants using an online application. Days later, they were found dead in Sagñay town in Camarines Sur.

As part of its probe, Fajardo said that its AKG has already started coordinating with the families of victims’ families and the Chinese embassy.