Chinese nabbed for P3 million bribe try in Taguig gun raid

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese man was arrested for allegedly offering P3 million to police officers in exchange for releasing him and another Chinese earlier arrested during a raid on a townhouse in Taguig on April 14.

In a report released yesterday, the National Capital Region Police Office said Zhuang Guangdong was brought to the NCRPO’s Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) office at Camp Bagong Diwa for questioning since he was at the townhouse during the raid, where several high-powered firearms and luxury cars were seized.

Another Chinese, Jerry Mari Cheng, went to the RSOG the same day and brought P3 million in two paper bags and gave them to Zhuang, who approached a police officer and offered the money in exchange for his release and that of Haiqiang Su, 29, to whom the search warrant was served.

Zhuang, who was being investigated in connection with the raid but not yet under arrest, was apprehended on charges of corruption of public officials.

Cheng escaped and the NCRPO has launched a manhunt for his arrest.

NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. lauded RSOG personnel for their integrity and professionalism.

“These are the kind of policemen that we need, to show our people that we can be trusted and that the NCRPO policemen are respectable and professional,” he said in a statement.

‘POGO ties’

Nartatez said the initial investigation revealed that the arrested individuals were involved in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

“Initial profiling showed that these personalities are involved in the business of internet gaming. They were given a license, and (they) have something to do with POGOs,” he said in a dzBB interview.

Nartatez said NCRPO investigators are coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration and the Chinese embassy to get more information on Su, including the reason he is in the country.

“He may just be a gun lover. We will investigate or profile,” he said.

Four airsoft firearms, three handguns, a 5.56-caliber rifle, two hand grenades and at least 42 bullets along with bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets and a Chinese flag were found in the townhouse.

Authorities also seized a McLaren GTR sports car, a Honqi electric sports utility vehicle, a sports bike and an electric bike with no proper documents.

The Philippine National Police has been verifying reports about the presence of sleeper cells from China in the country.