HOUSE leaders on Monday welcomed the arrest of three suspects in the killing of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que, saying this was a result of intensified law enforcement efforts under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, both said the arrests made by the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed the government’s resolve in pursuing justice and protecting the public from criminality.
“This swift action by the PNP proves that under the leadership of President Marcos, our law enforcement agencies are working with greater precision and efficiency in solving crimes,” said Barbers, lead chair of the House Quad Committee.
He commended PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil and his men for their professionalism and restraint in carrying out the arrest.
“This is an excellent example of what determined, evidence-based policing can achieve. Kudos to Gen. Marbil and his team for getting the job done without unnecessary loss of life,” Barbers added.
He also emphasized that the arrests send a message that justice can be achieved through proper legal procedures.
“This development shows the growing capacity of our law enforcement agencies to resolve cases with professionalism and restraint. We should encourage this kind of performance from our police officers,” Barbers explained.
He added that the PNP must sustain this momentum in solving high-profile crimes across the country.
“We must continue building on this. The public deserves to feel safe, and that comes from knowing that justice is being served through due process,” Barbers noted.
The suspects in the Que killing, which includes his driver, were identified as Ricardo Austria David, Raymart Catequista and David Tan Liao, who also goes by the aliases Xiaoxiang Yang, Yang Jianmin and Michael Abadyung.
Liao, a Chinese national, surrendered voluntarily to the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), while David and Catequista were arrested in Palawan. All three have been charged with two counts of kidnapping for ransom with homicide.
Fernandez likewise praised the police operation, saying it proved that justice can be served without resorting to violence.
“This is really good news! Ito ay patunay na seryoso ang pamahalaan sa paglaban sa krimen. At higit sa lahat, walang namatay sa operasyon. Maari naman palang magawa ito ng ating kapulisan,” Fernandez said.
He added that the arrest of the suspects in the Anson Que case demonstrated the Marcos administration’s effective coordination among security agencies.
“Makikita natin na may malinaw na direksyon ang ating pamahalaan pagdating sa seguridad. Nakikita natin ang bunga ng coordinated action ng mga ahensya,” he added.
Fernandez assured the public that Congress will continue to support law enforcement and institutional reforms to improve public safety.
“Nasa likod kami ng mga programa ng gobyerno na naglalayong gawing mas ligtas ang ating mga komunidad,” Fernandez said.
Que and Pabillo were last seen on March 29 after leaving Que’s office in Valenzuela City. A $20 million ransom demand was sent to Que’s family via WeChat the following day, prompting them to report the matter to the AKG.
Despite the family’s efforts to negotiate, the bodies of Que and Pabillo were found on April 9, dumped along a roadside in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Authorities later determined that the victims were killed in a house in Meycauayan, Bulacan, where DNA evidence linked to the victims was recovered.
Surveillance footage and cyber monitoring played a key role in identifying the suspects.
PNP investigators believe the crime had been planned as early as January 2025 and may involve a broader conspiracy, possibly tied to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
