Ping Lacson to Authorities: Recover and Return Ransom Money in Anson Que Kidnap-Slay

Authorities must not only recover – but also return – the ransom money in the kidnap-slay of Chinese Filipino trader Anson Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo, former Senator and Philippine National Police Chief and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Tuesday.

Lacson said this will further help the PNP regain the trust and confidence of the public, especially the Chinese Filipino community.

He also pointed out the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) will have a key role in this since the ransom payment in recent cases has become more sophisticated and involves e-wallets.

“Recovering even a portion of the ransom money and returning the same to the victim’s family will further help the PNP regain the trust and confidence of the public,” he said on his X account.

“If you don’t recover the ransom money, yet you have arrested the suspects, what will the victim’s family and the Chinese Filipino community think? Where is the ransom money? There should be ransom recovered since you arrested the suspects,” he added in Filipino, in television interviews on One News and NET25.

Related: Ping Lacson sa Awtoridad: Bawiin at Isauli ang Ransom Money sa Anson Que Kidnap-Slay

During his career as a law enforcer, Lacson managed to solve many kidnapping cases and recover – and return – the ransom money. More importantly, he declined offers of rewards from the victims’ kin, thus gaining the trust of the public.

Lacson noted the more recent cases now involve online transfers that are channeled through Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) or casino junket operations. This is where the AMLC can come in since the Anti-Money Laundering Act has been amended to cover casinos, he added.

Citing information reaching him, Lacson said that in the Que case, at least 20 ransom transactions were made using e-wallets even after Que and Pabillo were supposedly killed. The ransom could reach some P200 million in dollars and pesos, he said.

But he also cited information reaching him indicating part of the ransom may already be unrecoverable since it was used by the suspects in gambling at casinos.

“The AMLC will play a big role here. They are already investigating because they can open e-wallets,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lacson reminded the PNP that ensuring the conviction of the suspects must remain its primary goal before it shares updates on the case, especially information that may cast aspersions on the victims’ character.

He said this means reconciling the suspects’ testimonies and the physical and documentary evidence gathered so far; and using forensics to build an airtight case. Otherwise, he said the case could be “solved” as far as the PNP is concerned, but justice may not yet be served since the suspects are not yet convicted.

“The police may be right when they claim the case is solved. But they cannot claim justice is served until the suspects are convicted. So as of now, it’s case solved, but justice not yet served,” he said.

On the other hand, Lacson said there is no need to tap the military against kidnappings, since the police and military are part of the intelligence community, and they hold workshops to share intelligence information.

“As we speak I am sure there is coordination between the PNP and the military, so the military is being tapped indirectly as a support group, especially in technical matters. I’m sure they are coordinating,” he said.

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Ping Lacson sa Awtoridad: Bawiin at Isauli ang Ransom Money sa Anson Que Kidnap-Slay

Kailangang hindi lang mabawi kundi maisauli din ang ransom money sa kidnap-slay ni Chinese Filipino trader Anson Que at driver niyang si Armanie Pabillo, ayon kay dating Senador at Philippine National Police Chief at 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes.

Ani Lacson, malaki ang maitutulong nito lalo sa PNP para makuha muli ang tiwala ng publiko, lalo na ang Chinese Filipino community.

Iginiit din niya na malaki ang magiging papel ng Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) dito dahil ang pagbayad ng ransom ngayon ay gumagamit na ng e-wallet.

“Recovering even a portion of the ransom money and returning the same to the victim’s family will further help the PNP regain the trust and confidence of the public,” ani Lacson sa kanyang X account.

“Pag hindi na-recover ang ransom money, and may arrested kang suspects, anong iisipin ng family, ng Filipino Chinese community? Nasaan ang ransom money? Kasi arrested ang tao, dapat meron kang recovery,” dagdag niya sa mga panayam sa One News at NET25.

Noong alagad ng batas pa si Lacson, maraming kaso ng kidnapping ang nalutas niya kung saan nabawi – at isinauli – ang ransom money. Ang mas mahalaga dito ay tinanggihan niya ang alok na gantimpala mula sa pamilya ng biktima.

Ayon kay Lacson, ang mga kaso ngayon ng kidnapping ay gumagamit ng online transfers na dinadaan sa Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) o casino junket operations – na maaaring pasukin ng AMLC dahil ang Anti-Money Laundering Act ay naamyendahan at sakop na ang casino.

Base sa impormasyong nakalap ni Lacson, hindi bababa sa 20 transaksyon sa ransom gamit ang e-wallet ang nangyari sa kaso ni Que, kahit na pinatay na si Que at Pabillo. Ang ransom ay maaaring umabot sa P200 milyon, aniya.

Nguni’t may impormasyon ding nakarating kay Lacson na bahagi ng ransom ay maaaring hindi na ma-recover dahil nagamit ito ng ilan sa mga suspek sa pagsugal sa casino.

“So the AMLC will play a big role here. And as we speak they are already investigating, trying to find out, kasi established naman kung kaninong account sa junket, kung saan dinaan. Ang casino ngayon, kasama na sa covered institutions kasi amended ang AMLA. Kaya nilang buksan (ang e-wallets),” aniya.

Samantala, nagpaalala si Lacson sa PNP na dapat matiyak muna ang paghatol sa mga suspek bago maglabas ng “updates” sa kaso, lalo ang impormasyong maaaring makakasira sa pagkatao ng biktima.

Aniya, kasama dito ang pag-reconcile ng testimonya ng suspek at ang ebidensyang nakalap, at ang paggamit ng forensics para maging airtight ang kaso. Kung hindi, maaaring “solved” ang kaso ayon sa PNP, pero hindi pa rin makamtan ang hustisya dahil hindi nahatulan ang suspek.

“Totoo ang sabi na ‘case solved,’ as far as law enforcement is concerned. Pero ‘justice served,’ hindi pa… Case solved, but justice not yet served,” aniya.

Diin din ni Lacson na hindi na kailangang i-tap ang militar laban sa kidnapping, dahil nagpapalitan ng intelligence information ang pulis at militar bilang miyembro ng intelligence community.

“As we speak siguradong may coordination so tapped na rin hindi directly but as support group especially sa technical. I’m sure naguusap sila,” aniya.

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