DOJ: Trader’s kidnap-slay case still under probe

Department of Justice (DOJ) façade. Inquirer photo/Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — State prosecutors are still awaiting more information on the kidnap-slay of Filipino Chinese businessman Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo after the Chinese Filipino community criticized the Philippine National Police for leaking unverified information linking Que’s son to the case.

“We’re still looking at the other theories of the case,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla answered journalists when asked about PNP claims that Alvin Que, a son of the slain businessman, was linked to the case.

The bodies of Anson Que, whose legal name is Anson Tan, and Pabillo were found on April 9 in Rodriguez, Rizal—after they went missing on March 29.

READ: Kin to file motion to remove Que’s son as respondent in slay case

“Just to be fair to all the parties, I don’t think it’s right for me to comment on what I believe to be the truth. Let’s continue with the police work and analysis of the case,” Remulla said.

He explained that the April 19 referral letter of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) to Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon was only meant to inform prosecutors “of the direction we’re taking in the investigation.

PNP-AKG recommendations

In the referral letter to Fadullon, the PNP-AKG sought charges of kidnapping for ransom with homicide against Richardo Austria, Reymart Catequista and David Tan Liao, who appeared for inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice on April 28.

The PNP-AKG also recommended that the slain businessman’s son be placed under preliminary investigation with Haohua Yang, Fangquiang Yuan, Jin Yuan Ye, one Jonin Lin and a certain “Kelly.”

This was supposedly based on the extrajudicial confession of Liao, whom the PNP earlier tagged as the leader of the gang behind the kidnap-slay case.

But the PNP clarified they were doubtful of Liao’s claims, saying he could be misleading them to cover for someone.

However, the civic group Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order expressed outrage over the PNP’s release of his confession and also disputed the police claim that the case was “solved.”