PNP: Que kidnap case solved, but not closed

MANILA, Philippines — With the capture of key suspects, the kidnap and murder of Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Anson Que is considered “solved” but not closed as efforts to recover the P200 million in ransom paid by the businessman’s family continues, the Philippine National Police said yesterday.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the case was considered closed following the arrest of Wenli Gong, alias Kelly Tan Lim, one of the alleged masterminds.

Gong was nabbed together with another suspect, Wu Ja Ping, at a resort in Boracay on Saturday.

Fajardo said Gong is in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration.

According to Fajardo, the police Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) is working to recover the ransom paid to Que’s kidnappers.

“The case remains open as efforts continue to trace the remaining ransom money and establish the extent of the suspects’ network,” Fajardo said.

The ACG has frozen around $205,000 believed to be part of the ransom.

Authorities believe that Gong played a key role in the kidnapping as she allegedly lured Que to the kidnap site and used his cell phone to negotiate with his family.

David Tan Liao, a known associate of Que, has been identified as the alleged brains, with Gong described by police as his co-conspirator.

Tan allegedly coordinated the ransom’s transfer through junket operators and digital wallets before it was converted into cryptocurrency.

Fajardo said authorities are coordinating with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), which has reached out to its Cambodian counterparts after a large amount of the ransom was traced to a Yuione e-wallet account allegedly based in Cambodia.

“We opened a Pandora’s box. This case exposed how junket operations are being used to launder illicit funds,” Fajardo said.

The PNP believes that junket operators were used to launder the ransom money, but Fajardo noted that current regulations give the AMLC jurisdiction only over casinos, not junket operators.

“The casino is required to report transactions above P5 million. But when it comes to junket operators, the responsibility falls on the casino,” Fajardo said.

Wu Ja Ping, said to be a hairdresser, is facing charges of obstruction of justice after he reportedly tried to conceal Gong’s identity using a disguise mask.

The PNP is coordinating with the Chinese embassy and foreign law enforcement agencies to determine the identities and roles of those involved, including whether the two people taken into custody with Gong are truly her parents.

Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo were found dead in Rizal in April.