3 suspects in Que kidnap-slay under police custody
Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo presents the three suspects now in the custody for thje abduction and killing of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que and driver Armanie Pabillo in a press conference on Saturday, April 19, 2025 (Photo by Jason Sigales / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Three individuals are now under police custody for the killing of Filipino-Chinese steel businessman Anson Que and driver Armanie Pabillo, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Saturday.
In a press conference at Camp Crame, the PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said two of the suspects were arrested by the PNP – Anti Kidnapping Group in Roxas, Palawan on Friday morning.
Police identified the two suspects as Richardo Austria David, also known as Richard Tan Garcia; and Raymart Catequista, both Filipinos.
Meanwhile, the third suspect, identified as David Tan Liao, a Chinese, surrendered to authorities on Saturday morning, April 19, Fajardo bared.
Liao is also known as Xiao Chang Jiang, Yang, Jianmin and Michael Agad Yung, police added.
“Natatakot siya na maaaring ipapatay din siya (He’s scared that he too may also be killed),” Fajardo explained, adding that Liao gave another reason which police were not at liberty yet to discuss.
“Dalawang Chinese pa ang hinahanap (Two more Chinese nationals are still being hunted), [whom] we categorized as principals also,” Fajardo added.
READ: PNP: Chinese trader, driver found dead; cops probing ties to Pogos
A house in Bulacan
Que, who is also known as Anson Tan, and Pabillo were last seen alive after leaving their office in Valenzuela City at around 2 p.m. on on the afternoon of March 29.
According to Fajardo, police determined through closed circuit television (CCTV) footage that Que and Pabillo arrived at 345 Martha Street in Villacor Village in Barangay Langka, Meycauayan, Bulacan that same afternoon.
It was at the house in Meycauayan, Bulacan that Que and Pabillo were restrained by the suspects and held.
“[M]ay ginamit silang (the suspects) babae para i-entice at engganyohin si Tan (Que) para pumunta sa lugar na iyon (They used a woman to entice and lure Tan to go to that place),” Fajardo said.
Fajardo added that the woman – whom police did not name – is Chinese.
The woman and Que were originally set to meet on March 28 but it was postponed to the next day for a reason police have yet to disclose, Fajardo added.
She further detailed that a search warrant executed by police on April 16 at the house in Meycauayan, Bulacan led to the recovery of Que’s black shoes and Pabillo’s shoes and hat.
The search also discovered a nylon bag, rope, duct tape and hand cuffs allegedly used to restrain the victims, she added.
The vehicle in Quezon City
The PNP – Highway Patrol Group (HPG) previously reported that it recovered a vehicle belonging to the victim in Quezon City on April 8.
Fajardo said police determined that it was David who took the vehicle.
CCTV footage shared by the PNP showed David driving the vehicle at the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Tambubong exit at 3:37 p.m. on March 29.
More footage showed David entering a convenience store on the evening of March 29 before leaving the vehicle along Seminary Road, Barangay Bahay Toro in Quezon City.
“Pumasok siya sa isang convenience store, kumuha ng isang wet wipes at isang plastic na ginamit niya para tanggalin yung kanyang mga prints presumably doon sa Lexus van,” Fajardo said.
(He entered a convenience store and purchased wet wipes and a plastic bag for him to remove his prints presumably from the Lexus van.)
A US$20-million ransom
The PNP spokesperson detailed that, at 9:40 a.m. on March 30, Que’s family received a text through an instant messaging platform demanding ransom in multiple tranches.
She said the ransom was a sum of P200 million in an unspecified cryptocurrency, which was roughly US$20 million when converted.
“Based on our investigation, the intention really is to kill,” Fajardo, however, said.
“We are still following the money trail kung saan napunta yung ransom (as to where the ransom wnet to),” she added.
The killing
“Pinatay [sila] nung April 8. Itong si Richardo at Raymart ang tumulong sa pagpatay at isa pang suspek na lalaki. Lumabas sila doon mga pasadong alas-11 ng gabi ng April 8,” Fajardo detailed.
(They were killed on April 8. Richardo and Raymart helped in killing him and one other male suspect. They went out there around 11 in the evening of April 8
Que and Pabillo’s bodies were recovered in Barangay Macabud in Rodriguez, Rizal at around 6 a.m. on April 9.
According to the PNP, there were indications that the victims were strangled, hogtied and later placed in nylon bags.
READ: 3 big business groups demand reforms, justice for slain Anson Que, driver
In response to the incident, Filipino-Chinese civic leader Teresita Ang-See of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order said it was time for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to “check who his law enforcers are.”
