NBI nabs 2 Chinese for illegal detention

MANILA, Philippines — Two Chinese national have been arrested in a Muntinlupa City villa for alleged illegal detention, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said on Thursday.

According to the NBI, the arrest was made on February 5 after the victim was reportedly being forced to work, while his liberty was also being restricted.

“The victim, also a Chinese national, was reportedly being held against his will inside a villa and forced to work as an encoder for an online scamming syndicate,” the NBI said in a statement.

READ: NBI nabs South Korean fugitive wanted for fraud

Prior to the arrest, the victim was able to send distress messages, photographs and GPS coordinates to his friend who made the complaint to the NBI.

NBI agents used these data to secure the victim, and arrest the two suspects.

Upon investigation, the NBI found that the victim was subjected to physical abuse and death threats to stop him from escaping.

Following the arrest, the two have been presented for inquest proceedings for charges of illegal detention.

Furthermore, the NBI also detained eight other foreigners who were found at the villa “after they failed to provide valid immigration documents.”

The NBI is set to do a follow-up operation to “to dismantle the scamming activities linked to the premises and to identify further members of the syndicate.” /mr