MANILA, Philippines — Cash linked to the ransom in the kidnap-slay case of Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que was intercepted at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Friday night, leading to the arrest of nine foreigners and two Filipinos.
Authorities caught the suspects allegedly transporting P441.92 million, US$168,730 and HKD 1,000 in their luggage, Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, announced in a press conference at Camp Crame on Saturday.
To explain that the money was part of their winnings, the suspects presented a certificate issued by a Cebu casino, showing that the junket operator was named “White Horse,” Fajardo added.
“White Horse” was also the name of one of two junket operators that owned an electronic wallet to which authorities traced the ransom money paid by the Que family.
“We will see and trace the origin of this money because there is a possibility that the money may be co-mingled on the part of the money,” Fajardo said in Filipino.
“It may be that what they converted to USDT was returned to the Philippines,” she added in Filpino.
USDT is a form of cryptocurrency.
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PNP: Que ransom tracked on e-wallets of 2 casino junket operators
‘Not authenticated’
“When our Aviation Security Group personnel intercepted the 11 men, they were unable to present a document as to why they were in possession of that large amount of money,” AVSEG Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia said in Filipino during the press conference.
Abecia detailed that the suspects were intercepted at 11:30 p.m., but the casino certification was only released at 3 a.m. on Saturday.
“Doon tayo lalong nagduda na malamang hindi authenticated o hindi totoo itong casino winnings at ginagamit lamang kung bakit sila in possession of that large amount of money,” Abecia said.
(That’s where we’re doubtful because it’s likely not authenticated or that it’s not true that these are casino winnings and that they’re only using it to explain why they were in possession of that large amount of money.)
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PNP: P10 million reward up for info on suspect in Que slay case
Que and his driver, Armanie Pabillo, were last seen alive at his office in Valenzuela City on March 29, killed in a house in Bulacan on April 8 and recovered in a grassy area along a road in Rizal on April 9.
Filipino suspects Richardo Austria and Raymart Catequista were arrested by the PNP in Palawan on April 18, while Chinese suspect David Tan Liao surrendered to the Anti-Kidnapping Group on April 19.
Meanwhile, a P10-million reward was being offered by police for information leading to the arrest of another Chinese suspect, Wenli Gong (also known as Kelly Tan Lim), the woman who allegedly lured Que and Pabillo into the residence where they would be held. /jpv