The last time anyone saw Anson Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, was March 29, when they left Que’s office in Valenzuela City. A day later, the family got a ransom demand through WeChat: $20 million.
Que, a Filipino-Chinese steel magnate also known as Anson Tan, never came home. Negotiations dragged on, but on April 9 the bodies of both men turned up in Rodriguez, Rizal. Forensic tests confirmed who they were.
Three in custody
The Philippine National Police announced it had three suspects by April 18. Richardo Austria David, who also goes by Richard Tan Garcia, and his brother-in-law, Raymart Catequista, were arrested that day in Purok Sambuton, Barangay IV, Roxas, Palawan. The third man, David Tan Liao, is also known as Chang Jiang, Yang Jianmin and Michael Agad Yung. He surrendered the same day to the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the crime had been planned as early as January 2025. All three face charges of kidnapping for ransom with homicide.
What investigators found
Police believe the two victims were held and killed in a house in Barangay Langka, Meycauayan, Bulacan. A search on April 16 turned up DNA matching Pabillo. Surveillance footage showed one suspect buying wet wipes and plastic bags, which investigators think were used to hide forensic traces. The suspects’ abandoned Lexus van was later found in Quezon City.
PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil set up a Special Investigation Task Group under Lt. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo. It worked with the CIDG, the Anti-Kidnapping Group, the Anti-Cybercrime Group and regional offices to track the suspects.
Two Chinese nationals, believed to be the masterminds, were still at large. Authorities said the pursuit continues.
