The Philippine police recently reported that the kidnapping case of steel businessman Anson Que (also known as Anson Tan), which has shaken the Chinese community in the Philippines, continues to develop. One of the main suspects, Yang Jianmin, and David Tan Liao have come to light, linking their shocking past crimes to a series of mysterious deaths in recent years in the Philippines—including the murder of Alice Leal Guo, the former town mayor of Banban's accountant.
The police confirmed that Yang Jianmin is suspected to be a core member of an "armed violent gang" consisting of 10 people. This gang is closely related to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) and is suspected of long-term assistance to senior personnel in committing crimes such as kidnapping, extortion, and illegal detention.
Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, the police spokesperson, pointed out that the gang not only carries out debt collection tasks but also often engages in retaliatory kidnappings due to personal grievances, with motives that have severely deviated from any legitimate law enforcement boundaries.
More shockingly, Fajardo revealed that Yang Jianmin played a key role in a suspected case of kidnapping, rape, and murder of Alice Leal Guo's accountant in August 2024. According to police reports, the female victim was attacked and controlled by Yang Jianmin and his son in a villa in Pasay City, Manila, where she was bound, gagged, and taken from the scene, suffering prolonged sexual abuse.
Eventually, she was forced to sign blank contracts and promissory notes and tragically lost her life. The crime scene was covered in blood, providing conclusive evidence.
The police emphasized that Yang Jianmin's son was also directly involved in the crime, showing that the gang even operates as a "family-style crime network." It is reported that Yang Jianmin has at least two Filipino sons serving in the Philippine armed forces and police, an arrangement that has also been questioned by outsiders as his long-term crime "umbrella."
All this seems to trace back to November 2022. At that time, Yang Jianmin and nine accomplices, posing as agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), entered Ayala Alabang, a high-end residential area in Metro Manila, and illegally detained and extorted 40 million pesos from a Chinese businessman.
In addition to the 46-year-old Yang Jianmin, those arrested at the time included Fritz Ian Petil Cafino (33 years old), Ronaldo Cadalena Zuniega (33 years old), driver and translator Andy Ko Sy (50 years old), accountant Erlindo Cuago (48 years old), tricycle driver Roderick Segundo Ensano (48 years old), taxi driver Bienvinido Biolango Vildad Jr. (47 years old), driver Ernesto Solamillo Baay (45 years old), driver Roberto Daradar Pacis (65 years old), and 46-year-old immigration officer Jonathan Caliwag Salud. Additionally, five other suspects were wanted at the time.
The case shocked society, but due to "high-level pressure," the suspects were quickly released without substantial conviction.
This is not his first involvement in a case—years ago, Yang Jianmin was active in the Chinese community under the name of Longxiang Travel Agency, but behind the scenes, he operated underground finance and human smuggling businesses. Now involved again in the Anson Que case, it further exposes his crimes that have long been rooted in the gray areas between the legal and illegal in the Philippines.
As one of the suspects in the Anson Que kidnapping case, is Yang Jianmin merely a "hired hand" or a higher-level operator? The police have not yet concluded, but one thing is becoming clear: over the past two years, several officials and businessmen related to Alice Leal Guo have mysteriously died, including the public servant who handled her birth registration, the architect of the Baofu Garden project, and even her confidants. Is all this for the purpose of "silencing"? Is there a larger interest group behind this? The outside world is highly concerned.
Currently, Yang Jianmin is in custody, with the police stating that he "surrendered" to avoid "personal threats." However, observers note that this is more likely his way of seeking judicial protection to avoid being silenced by his accomplices. The case is still under deep investigation, but in Manila's public opinion, a call is growing louder—"Not only to clarify the death of Anson Que but also to fully expose all the crimes of this kidnapper family."
Conclusion
As the Anson Que case progresses, more hidden networks of power and violence in the Philippine underworld are gradually emerging. The public calls for judicial institutions not to ignore the "background" and "connections" of kidnappers, nor should they tolerate similar "family-style" crime groups lurking in society.
How did a Chinese family become the core of a cross-field crime gang step by step? How does a nominal travel agency manager control a gang network, official resources, and even push his children into the power system? The truth may not be far away, but the key is: does the Philippine law enforcement system really dare to investigate thoroughly?
