MANILA — Three suspects in the kidnap-slay of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que (also known as Anson Tan) and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, are now in police custody.
According to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson and Police Regional Office III director Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, suspects Ricardo Austria David, Raymart Catequista, and David Tan Liao are now under the custody of their Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG).
The three underwent inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice and were slapped with two counts of kidnapping for ransom with homicide charges.
David and Catequista were arrested in Palawan around 3 a.m. on April 18, while Liao surrendered later that day to the AKG and admitted his involvement in the crime.
“We discovered that this crime had been planned months in advance, starting as early as January this year,” Fajardo said in a press conference on Black Saturday in Camp Crame.
Que and Pabillo were last observed on March 29, 2025, as they exited Que’s office in Valenzuela City. The next day, Que’s family received a ransom request amounting to $20 million through WeChat.
The family promptly reported the incident to the AKG.
Despite attempts at negotiation, the remains of Que and Pabillo were found on April 9 along a roadside in Rodriguez, Rizal. Forensic examinations subsequently verified their identities.
Fajardo said the suspects were identified using surveillance video, cyber monitoring, and intelligence reports. A significant breakthrough in the investigation was achieved through CCTV footage and the discovery of an abandoned Lexus van in Quezon City.
On April 16, law enforcement officials carried out a search warrant at 345 Martha Street, where they collected evidence, including DNA that matched Pabillo’s.
Additionally, it was confirmed that two other Chinese “principals” were implicated in the crime and are still at large.
“They were also present during the time the victims were held inside the house. These two were with David Tan Liao himself. So aside from the two Filipino suspects, there were a total of five individuals present when the victims were detained,” said Fajardo./PN
