3 Chinese nationals on way to court hearing for drug case ‘abducted’ in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines–Three Chinese nationals who were being brought by police to court for a hearing on a drug case were allegedly abducted by armed men in Cavite Wednesday morning, police said.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police director, said the three – Li Tian Hua, Wang Li Na and Li Lan Yan – were seized by roughly 20 armed men around 10 a.m. in Trece Martires.

The victims’ four security escorts were disarmed, Estipona said, adding that the gunmen escaped with the detainees on a white van with license plate WTT 544, which was later found abandoned in Barangay (village) Aguado in Trece Martires.

Police had launched a hot pursuit operation for the possible recovery of the Chinese nationals.