Police officers examine one of the vehicles used to intercept a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology vehicle carrying alleged crime boss Hu Yang along the service road of the Manila-Cavite Expressway on Monday afternoon. — Photo from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
[Updated April 8, 2025, 3:55 p.m.]
MANILA, Philippines — Six people were arrested for allegedly attacking a vehicle carrying a Chinese man suspected of heading a crime syndicate on Monday, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) reported.
In a statement on Tuesday, the BJMP identified Filipinos James Lasam, 28; Jerry Ecalde, 30; Jerome Salvador, 31; and John Paul Chua, 51; and Chinese Yang Shin, 25; and Wang Hongjie, 25, as among those who reportedly tried to intercept the transport vehicle carrying Hu Yang, 37, along the service road beside the Manila-Cavite Expressway at around 12:20 p.m. on April 7.
“The BJMP and (Philippine National Police) are conducting a thorough and coordinated investigation to determine whether the attack was an ambush or a rescue attempt,” the bureau said in a statement
Hu was arrested in Parañaque in September last year in coordination with Chinese authorities and the city police. He is allegedly linked to a kidnapping syndicate known for torturing and killing its victims.
He was tagged as a fugitive for being wanted by the Public Security Bureau of Jinjiang City in China for kidnapping.
The Bureau of Immigration said several of Hu’s accomplices were arrested in early 2024 in Metro Manila and Pampanga.
According to the BJMP, Hu was being transported back to its facility in Barangay La Huerta, Parañaque City after a hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 235.
Two cars intercepted the transport vehicle carrying Hu, the BJMP said. Armed men in both cars opened fire on the BJMP vehicle, but the jail officers fired back.
As the occupants of the two vehicles attempted to flee, one of the vehicles crashed into a tree at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, the bureau said.
The suspects abandoned the crashed car and attempted to escape through a mangrove forest but were caught by Parañaque City police. A still undetermined number of suspects were able to flee the scene in the second vehicle.
Hu was returned to the jail facility, according to the bureau.
A jail officer was shot in the right shoulder during the attack and rushed to the Ospital ng Parañaque.
Police recovered a loaded .357 revolver, a fired cartridge case, a replica grenade, suspected illegal drugs and drug-related paraphernalia, and several US dollar bills from the scene of the crash.
In a message to INQUIRER.net on Tuesday afternoon, BJMP Spokesperson JSupt. Jayrex Bustinera said the investigation was ongoing to look into the undetermined number of suspects that escaped.
Bustinera added that Hu faces charges of violating Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act before the Makati RTC as well as a separate case for violating RA 10591 or the Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act before the Parañaque RTC Branch 195.