THE PNP yesterday said it has cleared the son of businessman Anson Que of involvement in the kidnapping and subsequent killing of his father and his driver.
“Based on the case build-up and investigation conducted by the PNP, there is no direct evidence linking Mr. Alvin Que to the kidnapping of his father,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo told a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Fajardo implied that the findings were made several days ago, noting that the PNP made an oral manifestation before the Department of Justice last Monday to remove the name of Alvin in the charge sheet.
She said the DOJ asked the PNP to make their manifestation in writing. She said the PNP was given three days, or until yesterday, to submit the manifestation.
Since it was a holiday yesterday, Fajardo said the manifestation will be filed today.
“The PNP is submitting a motion to amend the complaint, to remove the name of Alvin Que from the list of respondents,” said Fajardo.
The PNP included Alvin as a respondent in the case after he was implicated by one of the suspects, David Tan Liao, as having ordered the abduction and killing of his father.
Que and his driver were last seen alive on March 29 after leaving the businessman’s office in Valenzuela City. Their bodies were found in Rodriguez, Rizal last n April 9.
Police said the suspects demanded $20 million (P1.33 billion) in ransom, though the Que family ended up paying P200 million in cryptocurrency sent in multiple tranches. Despite the payment, the suspects still killed the victims.
Liao surrendered to authorities last April 18 and confessed to participation in the crime. Earlier that day, two Filipino suspects were arrested by police operatives in Palawan.
Fajardo said “there was no corroborating evidence that would link Alvin Que to the kidnapping and the eventual killing of his father (and his driver).”
Fajardo said they are considering filing charges of perjury against Liao, noting that the latter implicated Alvin through a sworn statement.
Alvin’s lawyer, Kit Belmonte, on Wednesday night said his client was already cleared by the PNP.
In a statement, the Que family said it has been in “constant communication” with the PNP and the special investigation task force created to probe the case.
“The PNP communicated to us that, based on evidence gathered by the task force, Mr. Alvin Que has been cleared of any suspicion and is not a suspect in the case,” said Belmonte.
“This has also been officially conveyed to the Department of Justice,” Belmonte added.
Last Wednesday morning, Fajardo said the PNP was carefully evaluating the statement of Liao, adding it was possible Liao was pointing to other people to muddle the investigation.
