On March 29, 2025, at 1:54 PM, Filipino-Chinese businessman Guo Congyuan and his driver Armani Pabilio had lunch in their office in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, and then drove to Martha St. 345, Barangay Langka, Meycauayan, Bulacan in a black Lexus LM350 van. It was later confirmed that this location was a trap previously set by kidnappers.
Upon arriving at the residence, a female suspect welcomed them and led them inside. According to the police, from that moment, both were illegally detained for 10 days, tortured, and unfortunately killed.
The police investigation revealed that the woman was a Chinese national and a member of the criminal gang. The Filipino suspect Raymart Catequista, who was arrested, is the brother-in-law of another suspect Richardo Austria David (also known as Richard Tan Garcia). The police stated that David had frequently visited the residence and was one of the main suspects involved.
On April 19, a Chinese suspect, David Tan Liao, under pressure, surrendered to the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) of the police. In his confession, he admitted to participating in the kidnapping and murder. The police said that Liao had used multiple false identities, including "Xiao Changjiang," "Yang Jianmin," and "Michael Agad Yung."
The three suspects are currently charged with "two counts of kidnapping for ransom resulting in death," and the case has entered the preliminary hearing stage at the Department of Justice.
Martha Street Residence: Crime Scene Exposed
On April 16, the police, with a search warrant, entered the residence and found a large amount of crucial evidence, including:
Shoes and hats of Guo Congyuan and his driver;
Nylon bags and plastic ropes used to pack and bind the bodies;
Tape and restraints used to restrict the victims' movements;
Bloodstains matching the DNA of driver Pabilio.
The police confirmed that the victims were likely killed inside the house.
Additionally, surveillance footage showed that on the night of the incident at 7:46 PM, suspect David bought wet wipes and plastic bags at a convenience store in Quezon City, presumably to wipe fingerprints inside the vehicle. On April 8, the Lexus van driven by the victims was found in Bahay Toro, Quezon City, abandoned by two men in hoodies around 4 PM on March 29.
The police identified suspect David through surveillance video of the abandoned vehicle location and tracked him to the crime scene on Martha Street.
Kidnappers Demanded $200 Million Ransom, Family Paid
On March 30, the suspects contacted Guo Congyuan's family via WeChat, demanding a ransom of $200 million (approximately 11 billion pesos), which was eventually paid by the Guo family in installments using cryptocurrency. The police noted that the funds had flowed into several designated wallets, and they are currently working with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to trace the funds.
According to the investigation, the kidnapping had been planned as early as January 2025.
Identity of Habitual Offender Exposed, Case May Involve More Kidnappings
The identity of the surrendering suspect Yang Jianmin was shocking—he was a member of the same Filipino-Chinese business association as the victim Guo Congyuan and had been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Angeles City in 2009 for involvement in a kidnapping case. Since then, he had repeatedly changed his identity to evade pursuit.
The police have now confirmed that Yang Jianmin and others are also involved in at least five offshore gambling kidnapping cases targeting Chinese citizens, with incidents occurring in places like Binondo (2022), Soler (2024), Pasay City (2024), and Parañaque City (2025). The modus operandi was the same: the victims' hands were tied behind their backs, their heads wrapped with tape, and their bodies were placed in nylon bags and abandoned.
Three Suspects Arrested, Mastermind Still at Large
Although three suspects have been arrested, the police stated that at least two Chinese "principal-level masterminds" are still at large. These two individuals were confirmed to have been present at the crime scene, the Martha Street residence.
The police stated that although Yang Jianmin is at the execution level, he is not the mastermind behind the scenes, and the investigation is still progressing.
Police Interdepartmental Coordination, President Highly Values the Case
This investigative operation was led by Deputy Police Chief Edgar Alan Okubo, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), Central Luzon and Calabarzon regional police offices, among others.
Police Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil chaired a special case meeting for six consecutive days, personally deploying arrest and search tasks.
The victim's family, accompanied by their lawyer, expressed sincere gratitude to the police and President Marcos: "They worked tirelessly, swiftly arresting the main suspects within days, and we deeply admire their dedication."
