The alleged mastermind behind the brutal killing and dismemberment of a man found in a drum in Binondo is a Chinese national who used a forged passport, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) announced Friday.

The 32-year-old suspect, who used the aliases “Davao” and “Xiangyang,” was arrested Thursday by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) agents at a hotel along Seaside Boulevard in Parañaque City.

While initial police reports identified him as Taiwanese, TECO officials launched a verification process that determined his travel documents were fraudulent.

“After carefully examining the passport presented by the suspect, this Office confirms that the document is a forged Taiwanese passport,” TECO said in a statement.

A TECO officer who interviewed the suspect cited that the man was unable to provide a valid Taiwan national identification number. The suspect eventually admitted he is a Chinese national and confessed to purchasing the fake passport through the messaging app Telegram.

The NCRPO is currently working to formally verify these claims.

Maj. Hazel Asilo, spokesperson for the NCRPO, said investigators are waiting for a formal written certification from TECO regarding the forged document. Asilo cited that the suspect’s partner originally identified him as Taiwanese and provided the passport to authorities.

The arrest follows the 15 February discovery of a dismembered body inside a drum in Binondo. Authorities recovered a hacksaw and a chopping knife believed to be the murder weapons after receiving a tip from the suspect’s live-in partner.

Investigators are eyeing unpaid debt as the motive for the killing.

The suspect and an accomplice arrested Tuesday are currently in the custody of the Pasay City police. Inquest proceedings are pending.