Que kidnap – slay case solved, but not closed – PNP
File photo shows the PNP presenting photos of arrested suspects in the abduction and killing of businessman Anson Que and his driver. (INQUIRER.net file photo / JASON SIGALES)
MANILA, Philippines — The abduction and murder of Chinese-Filipino businessman Anson Que Tan and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, is “considered solved” but not yet closed, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo
“This case is considered solved since the majority, if not all, of the main players are taken into custody and cases were filed, before the DOJ.” Fajardo said in a press conference on Monday following the arrest of one of the suspects linked to the case and her cohort in a Boracay resort over the weekend.
“So it’s not yet closed because we are still tracing where the ransom money went. Our objective is to recover the money that Que’s family paid,” she added.
In an earlier report, authorities said two suspects, identified as Gong Wen Li, alias Kelly, and a confidant, Wu Ja Ping, were arrested in a resort in Boracay Station 2 before 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17.
Fajardo earlier disclosed that Gong was used by David Tan Liao—one of the alleged masterminds of the case—to lure Que to a residence in Barangay Langka in Meycauayan, Bulacan, last month.
The first two suspects—Richardo Austria David, also known as Richard Tan Garcia; and Raymart Catequista—were arrested last April 19 in Roxas, Palawan.
David and Catequista are both Filipinos.
Citing an autopsy report, Fajardo revealed last April 21 that Que and Pabillo died due to “asphyxia by manual strangulation.”
She said David and Catequista admitted that they strangled the victims under the order of Liao.
Que and Pabillo were last seen alive at the former’s office in Valenzuela City on March 29. Their remains were discovered inside nylon bags dumped in Barangay Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal on April 9.
Que’s family reportedly received a $20 million ransom demand (P1.14 billion).
They eventually paid P200 million in cryptocurrency in multiple tranches.
Fajardo said the ransom money was tracked by authorities to the electronic wallets of two casino junket operators.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Council said in a statement on May 12 that it is cooperating with the police and regulators to investigate the laundering of the ransom money.
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