No criminal beyond law’s reach — Martin

The “swift” capture of three suspects in the kidnap-slay case of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que and his driver demonstrates that authorities can uphold justice without resorting to violent repression, said House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Sunday, taking a swipe at the previous administration.

Romualdez, the cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has been at odds with the Duterte family, said that the country needs more of this kind of law enforcement: “decisive, coordinated, and most importantly, humane.”

“This case proves that our law enforcement institutions, when fully supported, are capable of solving even the most complex crimes without resorting to violence or extrajudicial means,” the House chief averred.

Romualdez’s remark came on the heels of intensifying public backlash against the Marcos administration over its supposed “leniency” towards criminals — a stark contrast to predecessor Duterte’s iron-fist approach.

Critics have decried an alleged surge of criminality since Marcos took over, though the statistics released by the PNP suggest that the crime rate in the country significantly decreased compared to the previous administration.

The latest data from the PNP claimed that from 1 January to 14 February, 3,528 cases of focus crimes were only recorded, a 26.76 percent down from 4,817 cases tallied in the same period last year.

The suspects — Ricardo Austria David, Raymart Catequista and David Tan Liao — have been in the custody of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) after the former two were apprehended early morning of Friday in Roxas, Palawan.

Liao, a Chinese national, surrendered a day later and admitted his involvement in the kidnapping and killing of Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo.

Que and Pabillo were found dead on a roadside of Sitio Udiongan, Barangay Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal on 9 April after being reportedly missing on 29 March, shortly after leaving Que’s office in Valenzuela City.

The three suspects are currently facing two counts of kidnapping for ransom with homicide, while the PNP is still looking for two other Chinese suspects.

Romualdez claimed that the “quick” response of the PNP in capturing the suspects only shows Marcos’ “strong leadership” and that “no criminal will be beyond the reach of justice” under the present administration.

“We will continue to support efforts that ensure justice is served swiftly, fairly, and within the bounds of the law,” the Leyte solon said.

Meanwhile, the PNP formed a special investigation task group, coordinating with multiple units, including the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Anti-Cybercrime Group, and regional police offices.

Authorities are also investigating a possible link between Que’s killing to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.