PNP chief says to reveal ‘big twist’ in kidnap-murder after filing cases

A group of debt collectors related to illegal POGO operations may be behind the kidnapping and murder of businessman Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo, the Philippine National Police said yesterday.

In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the same group was previously tagged in a similar kidnap-for-ransom case last year, but did not elaborate.

“The manner on how the kidnapped victims were killed — even the use of duct tape to cover their victims faces, our two victims were put inside a nylon bag, and their hands were tied behind — it is similar to the first incident involving a Chinese national last year,” Fajardo said.

“The group we mentioned in the first incident and may be connected with this new case was involved before with POGOs in that their modus operandi is they are allegedly the collectors of debt in relation to POGO operations,” she added.

Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla, for his part, said the scenario was  also brought up during his meeting with the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and members of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc.

He said they are looking into all possible motives behind the murder, including reports alleging that ex-POGO bosses were demanding a refund from Que.

“That is also at the range of our conversation earlier, but we cannot release everything that we talked about…It’s just that these are operational secrets we cannot divulge right now,” Remulla said.

“It’s a different kind of kidnapping — not the ordinary kidnapping we know of. It’s more than that,” said PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil.

“It appears there is a big twist, but that is all I can say. After we finish the investigation and have filed cases, then we can disclose what really transpired during the whole process of negotiation and the kidnapping,” Marbil added.

Cecilio Pedro, immediate former president of FFCCCII, acknowledged the case of Que was particularly frightening since the family supposedly paid for ransom but the perpetrators still killed the businessman. 

“We are concerned with the recent kidnapping because they paid ransom but Anson Que was still killed, which was the first time this happened,” Pedro said.

“We are really deeply concerned and we want it solved as soon as possible,” Pedro said, adding that death is the appropriate penalty for kidnapping, which he considers a heinous crime.

At least 13 kidnapping incidents have been recorded since January, of which 8 cases or about 62 percent involved Filipino-Chinese or Chinese nationals as victims, data from the PNP showed.

The 13 cases logged for the first four months of 2025 account for about 40 percent of the 32 cases for the whole year of 2024, and half of the 26 cases in 2023.

According to the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order founded by Teresita Ang-See, three kidnapping cases were recorded in just five weeks.

This was confirmed by senatorial bet Panfilo Lacson, who solved several KFR cases during the time when he led the then Presidential Anti-Crime Commission Task Force Habagat.

He said two of the three cases had some similarities—including brutality and huge dollar-denominated ransom demands—that could indicate the same modus operandi and possibly were perpetrated by the same gang.

During yesterday’s meeting with FFCCCII, Marbil said they agreed to establish a collaborative program focused on proactive measures to detect potential threats, including enhancing coordination with local police units, strengthening surveillance efforts in key business hubs, and providing safety briefings to member companies and communities.

“We are mobilizing all investigative assets and leveraging every capability to ensure these incidents do not recur,” Marbil said.

“We call for calm and unity. These isolated incidents do not define our nation. What defines us is our collective resolve to uphold the rule of law and protect all people living and doing business in the Philippines,” he added.

Remulla said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave “very strict order to us, to all three of us, to be on top of the situation and yo stop these incidents because what society needed right now is law and order.”

The bodies of Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, were recovered at Sitio Udiongan, Barangay Macabud in Rodriguez, Rizal Wednesday morning.

Que and his driver were last seen alive on March 29 around 2 p.m. when they left Valenzuela City for a meeting.

They were reported missing on March 30 after failing to go home and show up for their appointments.