Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the motive and mastermind behind the killing of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que will be known in May.

“Nakuha na natin ang direct participants. Pero inaayos lang yung mastermind tsaka motive (We got the direct participants. But we are still looking into the mastermind and motive). That's one thing that we're trying to determine right now,” Remulla said Tuesday.

The DOJ chief said they need at least 20 to 25 days and that the investigation will be completed.

“It might pull off a surprise. Baka kagulat-gulat ang lumabas (It might surprise everyone),” he hinted but declined to provide details.

Last Monday, 28 April, a panel of DOJ prosecutors started the preliminary investigation into the kidnap-for-ransom with homicide charges filed in connection with Que’s killing.

During the hearing, suspects Richard Austria and Reymart Catequista, both Filipinos, and David Tan Liao, a Chinese national, appeared.

Six other suspects who remain at large were also named as respondents in the case.

They were identified as Roxian Guo and Chinese nationals Haohua Yang, Fangquiang Yuan, Jin Yuan Ye, Jonin Lin, and a certain Kelly.