Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered the creation of a special investigation task group (SITG) to look into all the circumstances that could lead to the identification of all those involved in the kidnap-slay of Filipino-Chinese business tycoon Anson Que and his driver.
Marbil issued the order following the following the discovery of the victims’ bodies in Sitio Udiongan, Barangay Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal on Wednesday, April 9, more than a week after their reported kidnapping.
Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) Chairman Teresita Ang See confirmed the identities of the victims on Thursday, April 10, as she urged the public to refrain from posting the pictures of their bodies.
Based on the police report, two male bodies were found inside two nylon sacks with their heads wrapped with duct tape. Those who found the bodies immediately reported the incident to the police.
Que — also known as Anton Tan and Congyuan Guo — the owner of Elison Steel in Valenzuela, and his driver identified as Armanie Pabillo, were reported to have been kidnapped in Bulacan on March 29 after their families received a message from the kidnappers demanding millions of dollars in ransom.
Their vehicle was found abandoned in Quezon City on April 8.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the SITG will be headed by PNP Chief Directorial Staff Police Lt. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) headed by Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III as the lead investigating unit.
At the same time, Marbil ordered the relief of the director of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), Brig. Gen. Elmer Ragay, Fajardo said.
“He (Marbil) is holding all commanders accountable. In the case of general Ragay, if you are not competent to deliver what is expected from you then you would be relieved from your position,” said Fajardo.
Ragay was replaced by Police Col. David Poklay in the order dated April 9, or the day the cadavers of Que and his driver were discovered in Rodriguez, Rizal.
CASE CONFERENCE
Fajardo said a case conference was held on Thursday, April 10, and no less than Marbil presided to come up with the best measure to solve the kidnap-slay incident.
Part of the investigation being conducted, according to her, is the backtracking of all the available closed circuit television (CCTV) from the time Que left his office in Valenzuela City on March 29.
“We are conducting backtracking to identify the missing links from the time that the victim left his office on March 29 to the discovery of his Lexus on April 8 (in Quezon City) and the cadavers yesterday (April 9),” said Fajardo.
Based on the initial probe, the family of Que started to contact other friends and relatives on March 30 as he missed all his appointments. They later reported the incident to the AKG.
REAL MOTIVE
Fajardo said the investigation wants to establish whether or not the motive was indeed kidnapping since there are some factors that do not fit the elements of kidnap-for-ransom.
“Included in the investigation (is to determine) if the main objective really is kidnapping and why they were still killed because the usual that we encounter in kidnapping is that once ransom is paid, then the victim would be released,” said Fajardo.
But Fajardo said they could not provide additional details as to the motive and the people behind the kidnap-slay.
She, however, said that they are looking into a criminal group involved in past kidnapping cases, adding that the same group could be composed of Filipinos and Chinese nationals. (Patrick Garcia, Aaron Recuenco, Argyll Geducos)
