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; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago; and Bureau of Immigration (BI) Deputy Commissioner Daniel Y. Laogan, among others, at the Department of Justice (DOJ) Compound in Ermita, Manila. This was in response to recent developments in the case of the kidnapped and slain Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que (also known as Anson Tan) and his driver, Armanie Pabillo.
The said Task Group, composed of PNP, NBI, DOJ, and BI, was expected to work in close coordination through constant information-sharing to expedite the identification of the perpetrators and to ensure that they are brought to justice. PGen Marbil then assigned Police Lieutenant General Edgar Allan Okubo, the Chief of the Directorial Staff, to lead the Task Group, assisted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP AKG), and supported by the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG); as well as the Police Regional Offices 3 and 4A, among other police support units.
On April 16, PNP implemented a search warrant on a house in Barangay Langka, Meycauayan, Bulacan, where they found key evidences, including a DNA sample which positively matched with Pabillo—Anson Que’s driver. Another critical piece of evidence was a CCTV footage showing one of the suspects buying wet wipes and a plastic bag in a convenience store—items presumably used to eliminate forensic traces. Authorities also recovered an abandoned Lexus van in Quezon City.
Through surveillance footage, cyber monitoring, and intelligence operations, police officers successfully tracked down two of the suspects—identified as Richardo Austria David (also known as Richard Tan Garcia, alias Abay) and Raymart Catequista (alias Taba), in 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. On the same day, the third suspect named David Tan Liao (also known by the aliases Xiaoxiang Yang, Yang Jianmin, and Michael Abadyung), had voluntarily surrendered to the PNP AKG and admitted his involvement in the crime.
The three suspects immediately underwent inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice after being charged with 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 amounting to $20 million via WeChat, prompting them to report the incident to the PNP-AKG. Despite negotiation efforts, the victims’ remains were found on April 9, on a road in Rodriguez, Rizal. Forensic tests confirmed their identities.
In a statement, the family of the late Anson Que expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., and PNP for their decisive efforts in bringing 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) commended the tireless efforts made by PNP under the leadership of Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, for the successful apprehension of the said suspects, 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.
