Chinese businessman kidnapped along Angeles Friendship Highway — demands 1 million dollars in crypto, escapes after two days

📌 On the night of August 2, a 37-year-old Chinese businessman on vacation was kidnapped by armed men in the parking lot of a supermarket along Friendship Highway in Angeles City.
The suspects demanded 1 million dollars worth of cryptocurrency (USDT) as ransom, but the victim escaped through a window in the early hours of August 4, and four suspects were captured.

■ Incident Details
· On the night of August 2, the moment the victim was leaving a supermarket parking lot on Friendship Highway, a white van blocked his vehicle.
· Armed men forcibly bundled the victim into their car and locked him up in another location (reports vary on whether there were 5 or 6 perpetrators).
· The perpetrators demanded 1 million USDT (cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar) as ransom, threatening to harm him if it wasn't sent by the deadline.
· On August 3, the victim's younger sister reported the case to the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG).

■ Escape and Arrest
· In the early hours of August 4, while the perpetrators were drinking and fell asleep, the victim slipped out through a window and asked for help. He was taken into police protective custody without major injuries.
· Tracking the suspects, the police arrested three Chinese men and one Filipina woman, and on August 5, inquest proceedings were initiated against them for kidnapping and illegal detention.
· Police estimate there were a total of 6 suspects, with reports indicating that 2 are still at large.
· The true identities of the arrested Chinese nationals are being verified with the Bureau of Immigration and the Chinese Embassy.

■ Planning of the Crime
· The victim's family operates a supermarket in the Philippines, and police believe that one of the suspects was a regular customer who had been surveilling the victim in advance.

■ Notice for Expats and Travelers
· This incident is believed to have been premeditated by someone who frequented the store as a customer. If you run a shop or business, avoid keeping a fixed schedule and routine for your commute, and keep an eye out for anyone lingering around.

■ Sources
GMA News (8/6), RMN (8/6), Daily Tribune (8/12), Inquirer·PNA (Headlines checked)

■ Photos
Suspects being escorted at police headquarters (RMN), infographic of the 4 arrested suspects released by the Philippine National Police (PNP) (Daily Tribune)