3 suspects arrested in Tan kidnap-slay
Three suspects in the kidnap-slay of Chinese-Filipino businessman Anson Tan have been arrested, including one Chinese national allegedly known for kidnapping people with debts to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), the Philippine National Police announced on Saturday.
Police Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, the PNP spokesperson, identified the suspects as David Tan Liao, Richardo Austria David also known as Richard Tan Garcia, and Raymart Catequista.
Fajardo said at a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City that David and Catequista were arrested in Roxas town in Palawan province on Friday while Liao surrendered to the police on Saturday afternoon.
According to Fajardo, Liao, who is Chinese, is also known as Xiao Chang Jiang/Yang, Jianmin/Michael Agad Yung.
David is the driver of Liao while Catequista is David’s brother-in-law.
According to Fajardo, Liao was used by syndicates to kidnap Chinese nationals with debts related to Pogo operations, which have been banned since December 2024.
Fajardo said Liao was also involved in five other kidnaps—in November 2022 in Muntinlupa, Feb. 3, 2024 near Solaire Resort and Casino, August 2024 in Pasay, December 2024 in Muntinlupa, and February 2025 in Parañaque.
She reiterated her previous statement that the PNP was looking into the possible involvement of Pogos as one angle in the kidnapping and killing of Tan, who is also known as Anson Que, and his driver Armanie Pabillo.
Fajardo said Tan and Pabillo were killed on April 8, 10 days after they were abducted. Their bodies were dumped on a roadside at Sitio Udiongan in Barangay Macabud, Rodriguez, around 6 a.m. on April 9.
‘Very solid lead’
According to Fajardo, the suspects used a Chinese woman, whom she did not identify, “to entice and lure” Tan to go to a house at 345 Martha Street, Barangay Langka in Mecauayan, Bulacan, on March 29.
Tan, who has a steel business in Valenzuela City, and his driver were seen around 2 p.m. on that day leaving the businessman’s office in Valenzuela City, Fajardo said.
Tan and his driver were held at the Meycauayan house until the day they were killed, she said.
David was seen leaving the black Lexus LM350 belonging to Tan along Seminary Road in Barangay Bahay Toro in Project 6, Quezon City on March 29, the day the two men were last seen alive. The luxury minivan was recovered on April 8.
Fajardo showed a CCTV footage of David purchasing wet wipes and a plastic bag from a convenience store—which the PNP believed was used to wipe off forensic evidence from Tan’s van.
On April 16, she said the PNP’s antikidnapping group searched the house in Mecauayan where they found pieces of evidence belonging to the victims, including Pabillo’s DNA.
Fajardo said that the suspects had already undergone inquest proceedings after they were charged with two counts of kidnap for ransom with homicide.
She said investigators were looking at a “very solid lead” that the kidnap for ransom was not the only motive behind Tan’s abduction.
Family statement
“Based on thorough investigation, the intention really was to kill,” Fajardo said.
She earlier said that the bodies of Tan and Pabillo showed bruises and signs of strangulation.
Tan’s family had denied reports that he had “shady dealings” with Pogos, according to their lawyer Jose Jose Christopher “Kit” Belmonte.
In a statement on behalf of Tan’s wife, Elizabeth Tan, lawyer Mei Go said the family expressed “its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation” to President Marcos and the PNP led by national police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil.
“Your tireless efforts made a real difference in the early arrest of the malefactors and we are grateful for your perseverance. We highly appreciate your bravery and courage in keeping our community safe,” the statement said.
Fajardo said the kidnappers initially demanded $20 million (about P1.13 billion) in ransom but only about P200 million was paid in “multiple tranches” of cryptocurrency.
“We are still following the money trail where the ransom went,” Fajardo said, adding that the PNP was getting help from the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
She said the two other Chinese “principals” who were involved in the kidnap-slay, remained at large, but did not say whether they were also linked to Pogos.
“They were also present during the time the victims were held inside the house [in Bulacan],” she said.
Fajardo said the abduction and killing of Tan had been planned “as early as January this year.”
She said Liao surrendered to the PNP on Saturday afternoon and “confessed his participation” in the kidnap-slay.
She did not provide further details of Liao’s confession but said he “he’s scared that he too may also be killed.”
“We are committed that justice is served and we will not stop until all those responsible are held accountable,” Fajardo assured the families of the victims.
