Manila has reportedly been unsafe for many years, primarily due to the operations of a notorious kidnapping ring. However, residents of Manila can now breathe a little easier, as the leader of this ring, Zhang Xiao Long, and his right-hand man, Meng Ziyu, have reportedly been killed.
A video circulating online shows a tense shootout in a small apartment, which took place in the Philippines sometime in July. In this violent exchange, two men were killed. Later, it was revealed that one of the deceased was Zhang Xiao Long, the leader of the infamous kidnapping group. The video captured a group of men gathered around a table, engaged in a heated argument. As the situation escalated, one group attempted to calm the others down, but the tension boiled over when someone pulled out a pistol. Gunfire erupted, and two men were struck down, with one of them being brutally stabbed afterward.
Philippine police confirmed that the two men who died in the skirmish were indeed Xiao Long and his partner, Meng Ziyu. The duo had been attending the meeting to discuss a ransom Xiao Long demanded for a previous kidnapping. After the ransom was paid and the victim released, the victim tracked Xiao Long down to recover his money. This confrontation turned into a standoff, which ultimately led to the deaths of the notorious criminals.
Xiao Long was feared by many during his reign as a ruthless kidnapper. One of his former subordinates shared shocking details about life under Xiao Long’s control. According to the ex-member, Xiao Long was notorious for his cruelty and merciless punishments. In one instance, the subordinate failed to obtain the correct ransom amount, and Xiao Long punished him by torturing and starving him for three days. The ordeal left the subordinate incapacitated for a year, during which he was also forced to repay the missing amount.
The breaking point for the former subordinate came on June 4th of this year, when the group targeted a young man involved in the computer industry. They extorted 1.2 million RMB (~RM780,000) from the victim before coldly killing him. The ex-member was horrified by the act, as he had assumed the victim would be sold to another group instead of being murdered.
Philippine police have declared the case closed, as the primary suspects have been identified and dealt with. However, public opinion remains divided on Xiao Long’s death. While some believe his demise was well-deserved, others feel justice should have been served through legal means instead of violent retribution.
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