Fil-Chi businessman, driver were strangled to death - PNP
Metro Manila, Philippines - Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Tan and his driver Arman Pabillo were strangled to death, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday, April 21.
PNP spokesperson PBGen Jean Fajardo said suspects Richardo Austria David and Raymart Catequista admitted to the killing which, they said, was ordered by another suspect, a Chinese national identified as David Tan Liao.
“Lumabas na rin ‘yung result ng autopsy at namatay ang dalawang biktima. Ang nakalagay doon ang cause of death ay asphyxia by manual strangulation,” Fajardo said in a press briefing.
[Translation: The autopsy result has been released. It stated that the cause of death was asphyxia by manual strangulation.]
“Ang pinangsakal po sa kanila ay ‘yung lubid po na orange,” she added.
[Translation: An orange rope was used to strangle them.]
POGO-linked suspects
Fajardo said indications showed that the suspects may have been involved in Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGO).
She said the apartment in Bulacan, where Tan and Pabillo were held, has a Chinese flag and several computers.
“Ito pong lugar na ito [This place] might have been used or being used as a scam farm, scam hub, or POGO,” the spokesperson said.
“Itong mga [These] computers na ito ay isa-subject natin sa [will be subject to] forensic at mag-a-apply tayo ng [and we will apply for a] cyber warrant to examine the computer data to determine kung itong [whether these] computers na ito ay nagamit [were used] in any scam activities or POGO-related operations,” said Fajardo.
The administration has declared offshore gaming activities as illegal and banned their operations.
Fajardo said fingerprint specimens from the scene matched fingerprints of the three suspects.
Another specimen from items recovered in the apartment matched Pabilio’s DNA.
Woman as bait
Police said a woman was used to lure Tan in the apartment.
“‘Yung itsura ng lugar na ‘yun [How the place looks], you wouldn’t expect a personality like Mr. Anson na pupunta doon [to go there] without business,” Fajardo said.
She said the suspects captured Tan upon entering the apartment. The woman went out and asked Pabilio to also enter.
Authorities recovered Tan and Pabilio’s shoes, David’s identification card, ropes, and duct tapes, and nylon bags similar to those used to dump the victims.
Tan was in the steel business. He and his driver were reported kidnapped on March 29. Despite the businessman’s family paying ransom, the two were killed in the apartment and their bodies were left on a roadside in Rodriguez, Rizal.
NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.
