PNP: Suspect’s claim tagging son in Que slay case lacks backing
Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo presents the three suspects now in the custody of law enforcement in the case of Filipino-Chinese steel businessman Anson Que and driver Armanie Pabillo in a press conference on Saturday, April 19, 2025 — Photo by Jason Sigales / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — A suspect’s statement linking the son of Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Anson Que to his father’s killing lacks backing beyond confession, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In a briefing at Camp Crame on Wednesday, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the suspect, David Tan Liao, made the claim in a statement upon his arrest last April 19.
“Maliban doon sa kanyang assertion, wala naman siyang naipapakita pa na ibang ebidensya. Although may sinasabi siya doon sa kanyang statements, including the alleged meeting with the son and even the physical [meet] and even the calls, wala siyang mai-present,” Fajardo said.
(Apart from his assertion, he had no other evidence to present. Although he said these in his statements, including the alleged meeting with the son and even the physical meeting, and even the calls, he could not present anything.)
“We cannot discount the possibility that David Tan Liao is misleading the investigation to cover for someone,” she added.
Liao voluntarily surrendered to the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) on April 19, a day after his two Filipino cohorts were arrested by police in Roxas, Palawan.
READ: 3 suspects in Que kidnap-slay under police custody
Fil-Chi group challenges suspect’s claim
It was previously reported that Que’s son, Alvin, was among the persons recommended by the PNP to the Department of Justice for preliminary investigation, based on Liao’s claim.
The Filipino-Chinese civil group Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) challenged the allegation in a statement addressed to the PNP on Wednesday.
“Why is the word of a notorious criminal the sole source of your evidence? Why did Alvin Que become a person of interest only on the word [of] Liao, a known kidnapper and gun-for-hire responsible for the deaths of more than a dozen kidnap victims?” the MRPO said.
“Anson Que has three grandchildren grieving over the death of their grandfather. Now, they have to contend with such still uninvestigated news about their own father?” it added.
The MRPO further said that Que submitted himself and his mobile phone to the PNP special investigation task group (SITG) assigned to the case.
“The preliminary investigation revealed no derogatory information. Yes, the result is preliminary, but it already counters and does not support the initial statement made by Liao,” the MRPO said.
‘Prudent to include son as respondent’
When asked to react to the MRPO statement, Fajardo said, “The PNP, particularly the SITG, is being cautious in accepting hook, line and sinker these allegations by David Tan Liao because we want to make sure that this should be backed up by other pieces of evidence.”
The PNP spokesperson only described Que’s son as a “respondent” in the case.
“[I]t is prudent on the part of the investigators and the AKG to include his name as one of the respondents. They will be given the opportunity to submit controverting evidence,” Fajardo further said.
According to Fajardo, Que’s son was the family’s “focal person” negotiating with the alleged kidnappers.
READ: Anson Que slay third kidnap case in 5 weeks – group
Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, were last seen leaving their Valenzuela City office on the afternoon of March 29.
Que’s family received a text through an instant messaging platform on the morning of March 30, demanding a US$20-million ransom in the form of cryptocurrency in multiple tranches, the PNP previously said.
The two victims’ bodies were found in Barangay Macabud in Rodriguez, Rizal, on April 9.
