Boracay arrests break open Anson Que kidnap-slay case

Two Chinese nationals were arrested Saturday in connection with the kidnapping and killing of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que Tan and his driver, following a swift operation inside a luxury resort in Boracay.

A source from the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed to DAILY TRIBUNE that operatives from the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) apprehended the suspects at 1:54 PM on 17 May inside Room 403 of Henann Park Resort, Station 2, Boracay Island.

The suspects were identified as Gong Wen Li, also known as “Kelly,” and Wu Ja Ping, alias “Wu Jabing.”

According to authorities, Gong was the primary ransom negotiator in Que’s abduction. Police are now working to determine whether the two are linked to a broader kidnapping syndicate or if others remain at large. Formal charges are currently being prepared.

“The CIDG's swift operation is part of our intensified efforts to crack down on transnational crimes and protect both local and foreign nationals in the country,” the source said.

The arrests mark a major breakthrough in the high-profile case that has drawn national attention due to its links to cryptocurrency laundering and foreign criminal networks.

The Que case

To recall, Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo were last seen on 29 March. Their bodies, duct-taped and stuffed in bags, were discovered on 10 April along a roadside in Rodriguez, Rizal. Their van was later found abandoned in Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City.

The PNP previously traced $205,942 (about P11.4 million) of the ransom to a cryptocurrency wallet outside the country, which has since been frozen. However, a larger amount — $1.36 million or roughly P75.58 million — was already withdrawn through a USDT account based in Cambodia, which U.S. authorities had flagged for suspected money laundering.

While Que’s family reported paying P200 million, authorities said conversion across peso, dollar, and crypto formats led to inconsistencies. Investigators are now reconciling the records across junkets, e-wallets, and cryptocurrency platforms, with international coordination underway.

The case has also drawn concern from lawmakers. House Dangerous Drugs Committee chair Rep. Robert Ace Barbers warned of a “vast shadow economy of crime” exploiting the country’s financial system.

“These are not isolated incidents. Junkets and POGOs have become channels for money laundering, kidnapping, and possibly even espionage. It’s a toxic mix that’s endangering the safety of our people and the integrity of our financial and national security systems,” he added.