The recent spate of kidnappings in the country is a matter of grave concern—not only for the Filipino-Chinese community—but for the entire nation, Sen. Joel Villanueva said.
Villanueva expressed his fears as he extends his deepest condolences to the family Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que, 51, CEO of Elison Steel, and his driver.
Que, who is also known as Anson Tan, who was abducted last March 29 was brutally murdered together with his driver. Their bodies were found last Wednesday, April 9 in Rizal province, bound with nylon rope and wrapped in duct tape.
Authorities are looking into possible link to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which have been associated to criminal activities.
However, the family of Anson Que has denied alleged ties to any POGO operations and clarifies that they do not own any rental property in Bulacan. His family insisted that the businessman has been engaged in legitimate business for decades and is a stalwart member of the Filipino-Chinese business community.
“The recent spate of kidnappings is a matter of grave concern—not only for the Filipino-Chinese community but for the entire nation,” Villanueva said.
“Our law enforcement agencies must get their act together to swiftly resolve this and all other pending cases, and bring the perpetrators to justice.Numbers don’t lie,” Villanueva said.
The senator noted that from 2017 up to present, the average number of kidnapping cases has risen significantly, from 14 cases per year to 32 in 2024.
“Alarmingly, we've already recorded 12 cases in just the first quarter of this year. What has the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group been doing to solve these cases?” he pointed out.
While the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) move to establish an Anti-Kidnapping Task Force is a welcome development, Villanueva said he believes the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is better suited to lead this effort.
“If it’s true that this case has ties to POGO operations, then why not let the PAOCC—an agency with a proven track record in taking down major criminal syndicates—take charge?” he suggested.
“Regardless of the angle we’re looking at, these kidnapping incidents, along with other criminal activities, continue to pose a serious threat to public safety,”Villanueva added.
“This should serve as a wake-up call to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify vigilance and take decisive action to ensure the safety of our nation,” he stressed.