PNP eyes 3 masterminds in Anson Que kidnap-slay

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has categorized David Tan Liao and two other people as masterminds in the kidnapping and murder of Chinese-Filipino businessman Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said yesterday that apart from Liao, the special investigation task group (SITG) is looking at Gong Wenli, alias Kelly Tan Lim, and another person whom he refused to identify as masterminds.

“We have identified David Tan Liao as mastermind. We are looking for Kelly. We have a P5-million bounty,” Marbil told reporters in an interview.

Marbil is supervising the investigation of the SITG and presides over case conferences together with officials of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), Anti-Cybercrime Group, Highway Patrol Group, Central Luzon police, Calabarzon police and other units.

Gong was last sighted in Boracay in Malay, Aklan in April. Police units nationwide have launched a manhunt for her arrest.

Probers have pointed at Gong as the person who lured Que to a house in Meycauayan City in Bulacan where the steel magnate and his driver were held captive before they were killed and their bodies dumped in Rodriguez, Rizal.

When asked if they are looking for other masterminds, Marbil replied: “We have to remove their web, their syndicate.”

The AKG has submitted a written motion requesting the removal of the name of Que’s son, Alvin Que, from the list of respondents for preliminary investigation.

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said a copy of the motion was submitted to the Department of Justice in Manila at 12:43 p.m. yesterday.

In his affidavit, Liao had tagged the younger Que as the mastermind of his father’s murder, an allegation the PNP is considering as hogwash.

“There are people who want to muddle the investigation to confuse us,” Marbil said.

He added that there is no corroborating evidence that would link Alvin to his father’s murder.

The PNP chief cautioned against taking Liao’s confession as gospel truth.

Asked what Liao’s motive could be in implicating Que’s son in the case, Marbil said he probably wanted to muddle the investigation.