THE PNP yesterday said it was not surprised by the decision of the Department of Justice to clear the son of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que from the kidnapping and slaying of his father and their driver.
In a phone interview with reporters, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Fajardo noted that it was the PNP that moved for the exclusion of Que’s son, Alvin, from the list of the accused.
“We’re expecting this because if you can recall, it was the AKG (Anti-Kidnapping Group) that filed a motion to remove the name of Alvin Que as one of the respondents,” said Fajardo.
The PNP has said they included Alvin in the list of suspects after one of the suspects, Chinese David Tan Liao, told probers that it was Alvin who ordered the kidnapping and killing of his father.
Fajardo said investigators, during further investigation, did not find “direct evidence” to link Alvin to the crime.
“This is part of the process. The DOJ did not find prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction against Alvin Que,” said Fajardo.
“That’s the reason why the case against him (Que) was dismissed. We respect it and we’re expecting it,” said Fajardo.
The DOJ has said Alvin was exculpated “due to lack of evidence to establish or indicate his involvement in the crime of kidnapping for ransom with homicide.”
Que — the owner of Elison Steel in Valenzuela — and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, were last seen alive last March 29.
Their captors later contacted the Que family to demand a ransom of $20 million (P1.33 billion). After negotiations, the kidnappers agreed to a P200 million ransom, which was paid by the family in tranches.
Despite the payment of the ransom, Que and his driver were still killed by their kidnappers. Their cadavers were found in Rodriguez, Rizal on April 9.
Four suspects are under police custody — Liao; Chinese Gong Wenli, alias Kelly Tan Lim; and Filipinos Ricardo Austria and Reymark Catequista.
