On the afternoon of April 19, 2025, the Philippine National Police (PNP) held a press conference to officially announce the latest developments in the case of the kidnapping and murder of Filipino-Chinese entrepreneur Anson Tan (also known as Guo Congyuan) and his driver Armani Pabillo: three main suspects have been arrested, including a Chinese citizen, with two other Chinese masterminds still at large.
Three suspects arrested, one a Chinese national mastermind
PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo reported that the arrested suspects include Filipino citizens Ricardo Austria David, Raymart Catequista, and a Chinese man surnamed Liao (phonetically David Tan Liao). All three are currently detained by the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) and are charged with two counts of kidnapping for ransom and murder, with the case now moving to the Department of Justice for proceedings.
Fajardo confirmed that the Chinese suspect Liao has multiple identities, having used aliases "Xiao Changjiang" and "Yang Jianmin". He surrendered to the police on April 18, while the other two Filipino suspects were arrested in the early hours of the same day on Palawan Island.
Chinese female contact used to set up the crime
Investigations revealed that as early as March 28, the kidnappers lured Guo Congyuan to an apartment at 345 Marsa Street, Langka Village, Mecawayan City, Bulacan Province through a Chinese woman. The apartment was rented by Liao, and on the day of the incident (March 29), Guo Congyuan and his driver went to the meeting and were immediately detained, and were murdered on April 8, with their bodies dumped on a remote road in Rodriguez Town, Rizal Province the following day.
Demand for $20 million ransom, still committed murder
The day after the incident, the suspects demanded a ransom of up to $20 million from the Guo family through WeChat, with the ransom amount escalating to about 200 million pesos in cryptocurrency. Despite the Guo family making payments in installments, the suspects did not release them.
Surveillance tracking key to solving the case, Lexus becomes clue source
The Lexus LM350 driven by Guo Congyuan was found on April 8 in Quezon City, and the police used surveillance footage to track the suspects. One segment showed the suspects buying wet wipes and plastic bags at a convenience store to wipe fingerprints inside the car, attempting to destroy evidence.
DNA evidence found in the crime apartment, multiple crimes committed there
On April 16, police entered Liao's apartment with a search warrant and extracted DNA traces matching those of driver Pabillo. The police confirmed that the victims encountered their fate at this location. Additionally, clothing, binding tools, and nylon bags used for disposing of bodies were found in the apartment.
Two Chinese masterminds still at large, suspected planners
Fajardo noted that five individuals were involved at the crime scene, and besides the three who have been arrested, two Chinese men are still at large, identified as the planners. The police are actively pursuing them.
Crime planned since January, suspects possibly linked to POGO group
The police stated that the case had been planned since January of this year, involving a gang suspected of being linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), specifically targeting Chinese individuals "owing debts" to the gaming group for kidnapping and ransom.
Although Liao is referred to as the "executor", the police are investigating the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes, pointing out that there are conclusive clues indicating that the motive for the crime goes beyond extortion.
Liao involved in multiple kidnapping cases, identity as a habitual offender exposed
The police further disclosed that Liao had been arrested for a kidnapping case in Angeles City in 2009, and again in 2022 for impersonating a National Bureau of Investigation agent attempting to kidnap a Chinese businessman. Additionally, vehicles registered under his name had been used in multiple kidnapping and body dumping cases, including at least five offshore gaming-related kidnappings from 2022 to 2025.
Liao was a key member of social organizations, acquainted with Guo Congyuan
According to sources within the Chinese community, Liao (also known as Yang) had operated a travel agency and was a member of several Filipino-Chinese organizations, having appeared with Guo Congyuan at the same chamber of commerce event. In January of this year, he was also elected as a "parent" role in a Chinese community group.
Although he has been arrested, whether he is merely a "hitman" or the true mastermind behind the scenes is still under further investigation by the police.
