One of the suspects in the killing of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que was linked to a crime committed against an alleged finance officer of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo in 2024, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.
In a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo presented a total of six cases wherein David Tan Liao and his alleged group were implicated.
“Ito po yung sinasabing finance officer ni Alice Guo. Pagpasok po niya sa kanyang villa ay naghihintay na po doon si David Tan Liao… Na-identify niya po si Liao at allegedly ay anak po ito ni Liao,” Fajardo said.
(This is the alleged finance officer of Alice Guo. When she entered her villa, David Tan Liao was already waiting there… She identified Liao and allegedly, Liao’s son.)
On August 31, 2024, Fajardo said Guo’s supposed finance officer entered her villa when Liao allegedly covered her mouth, handcuffed her hands and feet, as well as wrapped her head with duct tape.
The suspects took money, pieces of jewelry and mobile phones before taking the victim to an unknown location.
According to the PNP official, Guo’s alleged finance officer was reportedly forced to sign blank deeds of sale and a promissory note for P10 million along with 15 blank checks.
The victim was reportedly sexually abused and raped by her captors, according to Fajardo.
Now in police custody, Liao is among the suspects tagged in the killing of Que and the latter’s driver, Armanie Pabillo.
On April 10, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) confirmed that the bodies of Que 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.
Que’s family reportedly sent three ransom payments to the kidnappers totalling to P100 million, but the victims were still killed.
The PNP said this case was “out of the ordinary” since kidnappers usually released their victims after payment of ransom.
The police also stated that they are investigating the possibility that the crime was connected to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
Guo was also linked to illegal POGO operations, according to authorities.
Que’s family on the other hand denied allegations linking him to POGO operations. —RF, GMA Integrated News