MANILA – Three Chinese inmates of the Cavite Provincial Jail were abducted by armed men on Wednesday while being escorted by jail guards to their hearing at the Trece Martires Regional Trial Court.

The inmates were identified as Li Tian Hua, Wang Li Na and Li Lan Yan alias “Jackson Dy”.

Authorities said around 20 armed men on board 2 vans stopped the vehicle carrying the 3 Chinese and a Filipino inmate around 400 meters outside the jail.

The Filipino inmate and one of the vans were later found abandoned.

Authorities are now investigating closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the jail to identify the last visitors of the inmates.

According to Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia, Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) lead investigator, the 3 Chinese nationals are members of a “well-financed” drug group operating in Metro Manila.

“Si Li Lan Yan, ito ‘yung nahuli ng PNP-AIDSOTF way back 2003. Siya ‘yung nag-establish ng paggawaan ng shabu sa Tanza, Cavite at Silang, Cavite,” he told dzMM.

Authorities are also investigating if there was a security lapse on the part of the police escort.

The inmates were escorted by 5 jail guards. — Reports from Edwin Sevidal, dzMM; Maan Macapagal, ABS-CBN News