MANILA (UPDATE) - Authorities have arrested 5 Chinese nationals tagged in a casino loan shark syndicate who kidnapped a fellow Chinese national that owed them money.

4 Chinese nationals and 1 Filipino, alleged members of a casino loanshark syndicate, were arrested by PNP-AKG in an entrapment operation last night for kidnapping Chinese national Si Yuxiang and demanding ransom money from his family in China. @ABSCBNNews @ANCALERTS pic.twitter.com/KmCm8AXd0o

— Maan Macapagal (@maan_macapagal) August 14, 2018

The Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) identified the Chinese suspects as Wu Guoxing, Hou Zhau Zhou, Sun Yazhou, Wu Liang and Haichao Lin.

Si Yuxiang was kidnapped on Friday by loan shark syndicate members and was tortured on video, which they used to demand ransom money from family members in China, according to PNP-AKG Director Chief Supt. Glenn Dumlao.

The family gave P280,000 for his release, but the kidnappers asked for another P150,000.

This prompted the family to ask help from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which later contacted the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.

The Chinese Embassy coordinated with the PNP-AKG, which set an entrapment operation Monday night at the second supposed pay-off.

This led to the arrest of the 5 suspects.

“Nagkaroon ng usapan sa vicinity ng Solaire. Na-consummate ang pay-off hanggang sa na-identify namin ang location ng safe house nila,” Dumlao said.

(They had a conversation in the vicinity of Solaire [Resort and Casino in Parañaque City]. The pay-off was consummated, then we were able to locate their safe house.)

The AKG operatives were able to tail the suspects to their safe house in Barangay Bigaa, Cabuyao, Laguna.

Dumlao said the group kidnapped 3 victims and that their Filipino driver also took part in the torture.

“Tatlo na ang biktima nila just for this month sa safe house nila sa Cabuyao, at isa sa mga namamalo ay Pinoy na. 'Pag natuto na ang mga ito baka sila naman ang mangidnap,” Dumlao said.

(They had three victims just this month in their safe house in Cabuyao and one of those involved in the beating is Filipino. If they (Filipinos) learn from them they might end up being the kidnappers.)

Si positively identified the Chinese suspects.

Guns, handcuffs and a taser were recovered from the suspects.

The AKG said the case was an example of a Chinese syndicate who prey on fellow Chinese nationals losing big money in casinos. They kidnap them and ask for ransom from their families in China.

“Ito na naman ang mga loan shark syndicate na nangingidnap. Kapag hindi makabayad ang kliyente nila, kinikidnap. But this time, nagkakaroon na sila ng sophistication, may safe house na sila, tatlo sasakyan at may mga baril na rin.” Dumlao said.

(These are loan shark syndicates who kidnap clients who can't pay. But this time, they are more sophisticated. They have a safe house, three vehicles, and guns.)

Meanwhile, one of the suspects denied being involved in the kidnapping.

“I don’t know anything, I was just gambling,” his interpreter said.

The AKG said loan shark groups should register their business so they could operate legitimately as casino in-house financing firms.

“Dapat itong mga financier, they should find a way na maningil na huwag ma-violate ang batas,” Dumlao said.

(These financiers, they should find a way to collect payments without violating laws.)

Authorities are looking for 4 more Chinese and 3 Filipino suspects allegedly involved in the kidnapping.