Poker player shot, wounded in kidnap attempt - report

MANILA, Philippines - An attempt to abduct the president of the Philippine poker players group last month failed but his abductors managed to shoot him in the hand, a Chinese Filipino digest disclosed Wednesday. Chinese Filipino digest Tulay reported that the victim Hermie Philipson Chua, 34, was wounded in the right hand after one of his four abductors shot him. The incident, where Chua lost $12,000 and P11,000, occurred on April 19. Chua is president of the Poker Players Association of the Philippines and a resident of Makati City. Initial investigation showed four men abducted Chua while he was driving a Ford Escape (XTP-614) along Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City. He had to brake after an old man blocked his path to beg for alms. But after he stopped, the old man pulled his hand while three armed men got into the vehicle. One of the armed men took the wheel and drove towards Caloocan City. As the vehicle passed Ipil St. in Francisville Subd., Bagong Silang, Chua took a chance and opened the door and jumped out. One of the men fired at him, hitting him in the hand. A tricycle drive took the wounded Chua to a hospital in Caloocan City. Chua was later transferred to St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City. - GMANews.TV