On April 11, 2025, a Special Investigation Task Group was created by the Philippine National Police (PNP) following a press conference attended by Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, Chief of the Philippine National Police; Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla; together with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago; and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioner Daniel Y. Laogan, among others at the Department of Justice (DOJ) Compound in Ermita, Manila. This is to address recent developments in the case of the kidnapped and killed Filipino-Chinese businessman named Anson Que (also known as Anson Tan) and his driver, Armanie Pabillo.
Said Task Group was composed of PNP, NBI, DOJ, and the Bureau of Immigration which are expected to work in close coordination through constant information-sharing to expedite the process in identifying the perpetrators, and to ensure that they are brought to justice. PGen Marbil then assigned Police Lieutenant General Edgar Allan Okubo, The Chief of Directorial Staff, to lead the Task Group, assisted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, and supported by the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group; and the Police Regional Offices 3 and 4A, among other police support units to solve the case.
On April 16, PNP implemented a search warrant on a certain house in Barangay Langka, Meycauayan, Bulacan, where they found evidences, including a DNA sample which positively matched with Pabillo—Anson Que’s driver. Another important evidence was a CCTV footage where one of the suspects was caught buying wet wipes and a plastic bag in a certain convenience store—these things were presumably used to erase the forensic evidence; and the recovery of an abandoned Lexus van in Quezon City.
Through surveillance footages, cyber monitoring, and intelligence operations, the police officers successfully tracked down two of the suspects—identified as Richardo Austria David also known as Richard Tan Garcia alyas Abay and Raymart Catequista alyas Taba, at Purok Sambuton, Barangay 4, in the town of Roxas, Palawan, where they were immediately arrested at exactly 3 o’clock in the morning on April 18. In the same day, the third suspect named David Tan Liao (also known by the aliases Xiaoxiang Yang, Yang Jianmin, and Michael Abadyung), had voluntary surrendered to PNP AKG and admitted his involvement in the said crime.
The three suspects immediately underwent inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice after they were charged for two counts of Kidnapping for ransom with homicide.
Que and Pabillo were last seen on March 29, 2025, after having lunch at Que’s office in Valenzuela City. The next day, Que’s family received a ransom demand of up to $20 million via WeChat, prompting them to immediately report the incident to PNP-AKG. Despite negotiations, the victims’ remains were found on April 9, on a road in Rodriguez, Rizal, and forensic tests confirmed their identities.
In a statement, the family of the deceased Anson Que thanked President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., and PNP for their decisive efforts to bring the suspects to justice, stating: “Your tireless efforts made a real difference in the early arrest of the malefactors and we are grateful for your perseverance. We highly appreciate your bravery and courage in keeping our community safe”.
Likewise, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) expressed its recognition to the tireless efforts made by PNP under the leadership of Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, the PNP Top Cop, for successfully apprehending the said perpetrators, stating: “VACC anticipates the complete resolution of the Anson Que case, encompassing the identification and prosecution of all involved parties, including the mastermind. We express our profound gratitude for the restoration of public trust and confidence in law enforcement, the cornerstone of our criminal justice system. On behalf of the Filipino people, we offer our sincere appreciation for your service as guardians of justice.”
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez also lauded the Nation’s Peacekeeper for the swift arrest of the suspects in the said brutal killing. “This is the kind of law enforcement we need—decisive, most importantly, humane,” he said.
