Que slay suspect’s arrest shows no need for sensationalization – solon (2025)

Philippine National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo presents the three suspects now in the custody of law enforcement in the case of Filipino-Chinese steel businessman Anson Que and driver Armanie Pabillo in a press conference on Saturday, April 19, 2025 — Photo by Jason Sigales / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The quick arrest of the suspect in the kidnapping and killing of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que shows that the issue can be resolved without the need to sensationalize things, La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V said on Monday.

In an online briefing, Ortega said the arrest of Chinese suspect David Tan Liao, who surrendered to the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG), showed “good old-fashioned police work” where authorities simply did their jobs.

“It shows that we do not have to sensationalize things, the police are doing their job, and we lawmakers are here to support them. We have seen that they are capable of working and solving these big problems,” he told reporters.

“At the same time, people behind these crimes see the developments, the police are not sleeping on their jobs, and our government fights against similar cases. So this is a welcome development, and as I’ve said, at least we should give justice to the victims’ families,” he added.

Ortega also said there have been attempts from social media users to weaponize Que’s abduction and death, along with false claims of rising crime rates, just to fuel a narrative that the country is mismanaged and is in disarray.

“I think they are using that, weaponizing fake news, to create a culture of fear. I think they’re trying to create chaos, they are trying to create disorder. But as I have said, our police are there, and the system is working,” he said.

“It will be hard for them to mention things just to destroy the government’s image and to play politics, when we can see that this case had an immediate result, so it is working, it’s just good, old-fashioned police work and coordination with the local and national government,” he added.

Previously, House members, including Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, called out fake rumors of crimes spreading around the country, which they believe were merely an attempt to spread panic.

According to Romualdez, data from the PNP show a different story as crime rates — including for focus crimes of theft, robbery, rape, murder, homicide, physical injury, and carnapping — have gone down.

The PNP said crime rates nationwide have dropped by 18.4 percent from the first quarter of 2025 compared to the last quarter of 2024.Focus crimes, meanwhile, decreased by 26.7 percent from January 1 to February 14 in 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

READ: Romualdez calls out fake news on crime: PNP data tells otherwise

Last April 11, House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said that while Que’s killing is unfortunate, one incident cannot drive crime rates up and belie the PNP data.

READ: Adiong says crime still low, ‘one incident can’t drive rates up’

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo announced in a press conference in Camp Crame on Saturday that Liao, who was connected to five other abductions, surrendered to the PNP-AKG.

According to Fajardo, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Liao in 2009 also for a kidnapping case. Fajardo said the suspect was then known as Yang Jianmin or Michael Yung, but he changed his name after his arrest.

READ: Chinese suspect in Que kidnap-slay linked to 5 other abductions – PNP

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil believes the case has been solved after Liao’s arrest, noting that the mastermind will be identified and charged within the week.

Lawmakers, including Romualdez and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, commended the PNP for their swift action, saying it is also a clear message to criminals that they cannot escape the law.

READ: Rep. Elizaldy Co says justice must be served in Que kidnap-slay case

According to Co, the breakthrough highlights the commitment of the PNP to uphold peace and order for every Filipino.