PNP nabs 11 as cash tied to Que kidnapping intercepted at Cebu airport
Suspects in the abduction and killing of businessman Anson Que and his driver. INQUIRER.net file photo / JASON SIGALES
MANILA, Philippines — Cash linked to the ransom in the kidnap-slay case of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que was intercepted at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Friday night, leading to the arrest of nine foreigners and two Filipinos.
Authorities caught the suspects allegedly transporting P441.92 million, US$168,730 and HKD 1,000 in their luggage, Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, announced in a press conference at Camp Crame on Saturday.
To explain that the money was part of their winnings, the suspects presented a certificate issued by a Cebu casino, showing that the junket operator was named “White Horse,” Fajardo added.
“White Horse” was also the name of one of two junket operators that owned an electronic wallet to which authorities traced the ransom money paid by the Que family.
“We will see and trace the origin of this money because there is a possibility that the money may be co-mingled on the part of the money,” Fajardo said in Filipino.
“It may be that what they converted to USDT was returned to the Philippines,” she added in Filpino.
USDT is a form of cryptocurrency.
READ: PNP: Que ransom tracked on e-wallets of 2 casino junket operators
According to the PNP, six of the foreigners were Chinese, one was Indonesian, one was Kazakstani and one was Malaysian.
As to the role of the Filipinos, Fajardo said that was still being investigated by authorities.
Days before the midterm polls
The PNP spokesperson further said that the police already reported the incident to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Section 26 of Comelec Resolution No. 11104 presumes that carrying cash exceeding P500,000 is vote-buying and vote-selling.
Fajardo noted that law enforcement was particularly looking into the timing of the withdrawal of the money, mere days before the 2025 national and local elections.
“Pinag-aaralan ngayon ng CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) kung ito bang pera na ito ay planong gamitin to influence or interfere sa ating eleksyon,” Fajardo said.
(The CIDG is currently studying whether this money had anything to do with plans to influence or interfere with our elections.)
‘Not authenticated’
“When our Aviation Security Group personnel intercepted the 11 men, they were unable to present a document as to why they were in possession of that large amount of money,” AVSEG Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia said in Filipino during the press conference.
Abecia detailed that the suspects were intercepted at 11:30 p.m., but the casino certification was only released at 3 a.m. on Saturday.
“Doon tayo lalong nagduda na malamang hindi authenticated o hindi totoo itong casino winnings at ginagamit lamang kung bakit sila in possession of that large amount of money,” Abecia said.
(That’s where we’re doubtful because it’s likely not authenticated or that it’s not true that these are casino winnings and that they’re only using it to explain why they were in possession of that large amount of money.)
READ: PNP: P10 million reward up for info on suspect in Que slay case
Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, were last seen alive at his office in Valenzuela City on March 29, killed in a house in Bulacan on April 8 and recovered in a grassy area along a road in Rizal on April 9.
Filipino suspects Richardo Austria and Raymart Catequista were arrested by the PNP in Palawan on April 18, while Chinese suspect David Tan Liao surrendered to the Anti-Kidnapping Group on April 19.
Meanwhile, a P10-million reward was being offered by police for information leading to the arrest of another Chinese suspect, Wenli Gong (also known as Kelly Tan Lim), the woman who allegedly lured Que and Pabillo into the residence where they would be held.
Warrants out for foreign suspects
Fajardo detailed that one of the Chinese suspects had an existing International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice against him for fraud.
Meanwhile, another Chinese suspect and the Malaysian suspect had existing arrest warrants for theft from courts in Pasay and Parañaque Cities, respectively.
Further, the Malaysian suspect and another Chinese suspect were found with driver’s licenses allegedly faked.
“Fake ito. Nagkaroon na ng certification ng LTO (Land Transportation Office.) Itong lisensya na ito supposedly ay pagmamay-ari ng isang Pilipino,” Fajardo said of the Malaysian suspect’s alleged fake license.
(This is fake. There’s been a certification from the LTO. This license is supposedly the property of a Filipino.)
These two suspects may face an additional charge for falsification of public documents, the PNP spokesperson detailed. /jpv/cb
