On April 10, 2025, Brigadier General Jean Fahardo, spokesperson and director of the Central Luzon Police District of the Philippine National Police (PNP), officially announced: The police have established a special investigation team to fully investigate the case of the kidnapping and brutal murder of Chinese businessman Anson Tan and his Filipino driver Armanie Pabillo.
This case has shocked the Chinese and Filipino communities, involving not only the safety of transnational businessmen but also potentially exposing financial and interest conflicts related to the POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) background groups.
🚗 From Disappearance to Abandonment: The Truth Gradually Emerges
The incident occurred on the evening of March 29, 2025, when Anson Tan and his driver went out in a black Lexus LM and then went missing. On April 8, the police found the vehicle on Seminary Road in Quezon City, confirming it as the last transportation used by the two.
On the morning of April 9, the bodies of the two were discovered by villagers in a wilderness area in Rodriguez town, Rizal province, with their hands tied behind their backs and heads wrapped in tape, clearly having suffered severe torture. The police later confirmed the identities of the deceased as Anson Tan and Pabillo.
💰 Suspected Kidnapping Triggered by Business Dispute
According to multiple insiders who spoke to the media, the victim Anson Tan had been involved in building leasing and other businesses in the Philippines and had reached a leasing agreement with a group with a POGO background, for which a large deposit was paid. However, due to the eventual breakdown of the transaction, Tan refused to return part of the funds, leading to the conflict and possibly the kidnapping.
This claim has not yet been officially confirmed by the police but has become one of the current focuses of the investigation. Insiders also revealed that the Tan family had tried to pressure the kidnappers through underground connections and even paid a ransom at a great cost, but still could not prevent the tragic outcome.
🕵️♀️ Police Launch Comprehensive Investigation: Vowing to Thoroughly Investigate
The PNP has established a special task force and is conducting an in-depth investigation from various aspects, including:
Surveillance video and vehicle tracking analysis
Mobile phone and communication record forensics
Financial transaction tracking related to the case
Investigation of the victim's dealings with POGO-related groups
The police spokesperson emphasized: "We will not overlook any clues, nor will we allow this heinous case to be buried."
The police also call on informants to actively provide information and assure the public that all those responsible will be prosecuted according to law, ensuring that justice is served.
📣 Chinese Community Shaken: Calls for Safety Resurface
Anson Tan, who had been doing business in the Philippines for many years, was low-key and generous with a good reputation. His and his driver's murder has caused a great shock in the Filipino-Chinese community. Several overseas Chinese group representatives have called for strengthened cooperation between the Chinese and Filipino governments to enhance the safety protection mechanisms for Chinese in the Philippines, to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
This case not only reveals the severe challenges faced by local security but also rekindles widespread concern about the black and gray industries of the POGO sector, law enforcement loopholes, and corruption collusion.
