The kidnapping case of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que (Anson Tan), which continues to ferment, has been declared "solved" by the Philippine National Police (PNP), with some suspects reportedly arrested. However, there are strong doubts about the progress of the investigation from the public.
A well-known Filipino media personality openly questioned, raising three major doubts: Is the case really solved? Has the mastermind been arrested? Has the ransom of up to 200 million pesos been recovered?
According to insiders, the family of Anson Que had paid a ransom of 200 million Philippine pesos to the kidnappers. Yet, the police have not disclosed any details about the whereabouts of the ransom or whether it has been recovered, leading to widespread concerns about the transparency and credibility of the case.
The media personality questioned the police on social media: "If the mastermind has not been arrested and the ransom not recovered, the case cannot be considered solved. Otherwise, it is a deception to the public." He also pointed out that even though some suspects have been arrested, if the mastermind and other involved parties are still at large, the case is far from concluded.
He wrote:
"The huge ransom paid by the family could not have been squandered in such a short time. If the police have recovered even a part of it, they should announce it as an important proof of progress in the case. Like in a bank robbery, recovering the stolen money is one of the standard procedures. If you really have made a breakthrough, please show the evidence."
So far, the Philippine police have not given a clear response regarding the recovery of the ransom or the identity of the mastermind. This further fuels public skepticism: Is the police adopting a strategy of avoiding important issues? Are they intentionally covering up parts of the case?
The public generally believes that only when the following conditions are all met, can it be considered a "real solution" to the case:
All suspects (especially the mastermind) are successfully apprehended;
Substantial recovery of the huge ransom;
The kidnapping process and the background network are thoroughly investigated;
The police actions are clear, transparent in their enforcement process, and open in their information mechanism.
The case is still under further investigation, and the victim's family along with various sectors of society are calling for the Philippine government and law enforcement agencies to take serious action, to disclose more details of the case soon, and to restore public confidence in the judicial system.
