PNP-AKG chief sacked following Anson Que’s death

Police Brigadier General Elmer Ragay, chief of the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), has been relieved from his post in connection with the abduction and death of businessman Anson Que.

PNP spokesperson P/BGen. Jean Fajardo reported this in an interview on Thursday, noting that PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil expressed dissatisfaction with Ragay's performance as AKG chief.

“We would like to confirm na-relieved po as Director AKG si General Elmer Ragay (We would like to confirm that AKG Director General Elmer Ragay was relieved),” Fajardo said.

“Ito lang po ang pinapasabi ni Chief (This is his [Marbil's] message): He is not satisfied with the performance. That is why he (Ragay) was relieved and replaced,” she added.

Ragay has been replaced by Police Colonel David Poklay, former deputy director for operations of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Que and his driver were found dead on a roadside in Rodriguez, Rizal, on 9 April. Their remains were discovered by a concerned citizen in Sitio Udiongan, Barangay Macabud, around 6 a.m. that day.

According to Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A) public information office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Chitadel Gaoiran, the bodies of the two victims were “placed in a nylon bag, tied with nylon rope, and their faces were wrapped with duct tape.”

Also, the victims were found wearing only underwear, with their heads covered in blood. They showed signs of bruising and injuries.

Further, Fajardo said the victims were last seen alive around 2 PM on 29 March, when they left Valenzuela for a meeting.

On 30 March, Que’s family reported that he did not return home and did not arrive for scheduled activities.

“Noong hapon din po noon, noong March 30, nag-report na po ang family sa AKG (That same afternoon, on March 30, the family reported the incident to the AKG),” Fajardo added.

She said the PNP has already created a special investigation task group to focus on the resolution of the case. The team will be led by PNP’s Chief of the Directorial Staff, Police Lieutenant General Edgar Allan Okubo, while the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will lead the investigation.

In February, Ragay was administratively relieved from his post due to issues surrounding the operation to rescue a kidnapped Chinese minor. However, he was reinstated after his administrative relief was overturned, citing election period regulations.