MANILA — The lawyer of two Chinese nationals implicated in the killing of businessman Anson Que will ask the Department of Justice - National Prosecution Service to clear his clients.

Family says Anson Que had no business ties with POGOs

Atty. Freidrick Lu said his clients, Hauhua Yang and Fangquiang Yuan, who were named by the Philippine National Police as “suspects for preliminary investigation,” were not possibly involved in the case as they were in a casino resort at the time of the killing.  

Lu and his clients Yang and Yuan attended the first day of preliminary investigation at the DOJ on the kidnapping and killing of Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo. 

Aside from Yang and Yuan, three other respondents, who were earlier identified by authorities, also underwent preliminary investigation proceedings at the DOJ.

Three suspects in Anson Que kidnap-slay now under custody: PNP

Lu said Yang and Yuan have been under the custody of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group since the two were reported missing by their families to the Chinese Embassy.  

“They are telling us every single day they are just there in Solaire plying their trade, ang sabi nila ang ginagawa lang nila everyday is that yung mga taong gustong magpapalit ng pera dumadaan sa kanila, nagpapakilala sa money changer or yung mga taong, as small as sigarilyo, or gusto ng kwarto sa Solaire, tumutulong lang silang makahanap ng mga ganon,” Lu said.

Asked about the charges against his clients, Lu said they are being accused as conduits for the ransom money from the Que family. 

Lu also said they are puzzled on the reason for the detention of Yang and Yuan who are supposedly facing immigration charges.  

“Ang sinasabi dito na subject sila ng preliminary investigation, pero ang question namin dito is that kung subject pala sila sa preliminary investigation and sila ay may hinaharap na Bureau of Immigration alleged violation which also stems from here, isn’t it like the chicken and the na para bang sinasabi mo na kaya sila nahuli ng BI is that meron silang kaso dito and yet kaya sila hinahawakan dito ay may kaso sa BI?” Lu said.

Lu also said he is planning to file a petition for habeas corpus because of the continued detention of his clients. 

Meantime, the lawyer of the Que family also asked the DOJ and the PNP to determine if there is enough basis to include another individual as one of the respondents in the case.  

Lawyer Arleen Tagaban, who represents Que’s widow as well as the family of Que’s driver, refused to divulge the name of the potential respondent.  

“Kailangan malaman natin, kasi namention siya sa isang affidavit, pinangalanan so dapat lang malaman natin ano ba ang talagang participation niya, kung wala siyang participation eh di i-clear natin,” Tagaban said. 

The next hearing before the DOJ is on May 8.