PNP clears Anson Que's son in kidnap-slay

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday cleared the name of Alvin Que after one of the arrested suspects claimed that he ordered the killing of his father, businessman Anson Que.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) intended as early as Monday to remove Alvin as one of the respondents in the complaint.

“Nito pong nakaraang Lunes, unang araw, unang criminal investigation, 'yung mga lawyers po ng AKG already manifested our intention to amend the complaint po,” Fajardo said in a press conference.

(Last Monday, first day of criminal investigation, the lawyers of AKG already manifested our intention to amend the complaint.)

“Orally, sinabi po nila 'yan because there are no corroborating evidence that will link Alvin Que sa kidnapping at eventual pagpatay sa tatay po nila,” she added.

(Orally, they said that because there is no corroborating evidence that will link Alvin Que to the kidnapping and eventual killing of their father.)

However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) instructed the lawyers from the AKG to put their request into writing. The AKG was given three days or until Friday to submit a written motion to amend the complaint.

According to Fajardo, the motion to remove Alvin as one of the respondents in the killing of his father will be submitted Friday.

Fajardo noted that the police did not automatically believe the affidavit of one of the suspects, David Tan Liao, that implicated Alvin.

According to her, the police looked for evidence. After the investigation, police found no evidence that links Alvin to his father's slay.

The PNP official also clarified that the PNP did not publicize the copy of Liao’s affidavit.

On Tuesday, it was reported that Anson’s 42-year-old son, Ronxian Gou or Alvin Que, was one of the six names recommended for preliminary investigation by the AKG to the DOJ on April 19.

The Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) on Wednesday called out the PNP for this move.

Fajardo said that the authorities “cannot just turn a blind eye” to the allegations.

“That is the reason why dinaan namin sa preliminary investigation so the family can submit contrary evidence to prove na hindi totoo,” she said.

Fajardo said that the PNP was also considering the possibility that Liao was lying to cover up for someone or to save himself from being tagged as the mastermind.

“We cannot discount the possibility that David Tan Liao was misleading the investigation to cover up for someone. There is also a possibility that David Tan Liao is the mastermind himself,” Fajardo said.

On April 10, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) confirmed that the bodies of Anson and his driver were found stuffed inside nylon bags on a grassy portion of a road in Rodriguez, Rizal.

They were last seen alive on March 29 when they left the businessman’s office in Valenzuela City.

Police have named a total of five suspects in the killing of Anson and his driver so far, including those already in custody, David Tan Liao, Richardo Austria, and Reymart Catequista; and those still at large, Jonin Lin and Wenli Gong, also known as Kelly Tan Lim, Bao Wenli, Axin, and Huang Yanling.

A P5 million reward is being offered for information that can lead to the arrest of Kelly, who allegedly lured Anson to go to the Bulacan apartment where he was held captive with his driver and communicated with his family for the ransom.

Two more Chinese in Boracay are also being questioned for their possible connection with Kelly.

Fajardo earlier said a P200-million ransom in exchange for Que’s freedom was transferred in batches through casino junket operators.

More than five people received the money before it was converted into cryptocurrency, two of whom are already in custody.

The PNP is also looking into holding the casino and junket operators accountable. —AOL, GMA Integrated News