By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday it is looking at three people as the possible masterminds of the kidnapping and murder of Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil identified them as David Tan Liao, Chinese woman Wenli Gong alias Kelly Tan Lim, and an unnamed suspect.
Marbil said Liao and Lim are in cahoots with each other.
“Meron pa kaming hinahanap, hindi po lang namin nilalagay. Ang kasama niya po si Kelly. Ito na po yung nandito. But yun po ang gusto natin, bakit ang motibo nila (We are still looking for another person whom we are not naming, an accomplice of Kelly. We are looking at their motive),” Marbil said on the sidelines of the PNP launch of its Joint Anti-Fake News Action Committee (JAFNAC) held at Camp Crame.
Liao is one of the key players in the kidnap and killing of Que. He surrendered after two Filipino suspects – Raymart Catequista and Richardo Garcia – were arrested in Palawan last month.
Lim was identified by the two Filipino suspects as the one who negotiated with Que’s family using the victim’s phone. She is the Chinese woman who was also used as bait to lure Que and his driver “to go to a place.”
Que and Pabillo were last seen in Valenzuela City on March 29 after leaving the former’s office in Valenzuela City. Their bodies were found by a roadside in Rodriguez, Rizal on April 9.
Marbil said they are now on the trail of the PHP200 million ransom paid in exchange for Que’s freedom, which was transferred in batches through casino junket operators.
“They used crypto and many are helping us, especially the AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council). You will see, we will have the establishments involved in this transfer of funds closed. As I have said, there is kidnapping because suspects have an avenue where they can launder money. We will have these junked operators closed via the AMLC’s recommendation,” he said. (PNA)
