PNP: 2 junket operators received Que ransom

The P200-million ransom paid by the family of slain Filipino-Chinese businessman Anson Que ended up in 10 different e-wallet accounts and was converted to cryptocurrency after passing through two junket operators, the Philippine National Police said yesterday.

- MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said the money moved quickly through various e-wallets and platforms and passed through junket operators 9Dynasty Group and White Horse Club, making it difficult to freeze it fast enough to prevent it from changing hands and getting laundered.

"It's like a snake, if you freeze it now, it gets to move somewhere else the next moment," Marbil said in Filipino during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Que and his driver Armanie Pabillo were kidnapped in March, and their bodies dumped in Montalban, Rizal even after Que's family had paid ransom.

"We already have a red notice against these people so that all countries are alerted, and they can either be denied entry (and the accounts) frozen and returned to the Philippines," Marbil said.

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said some of these accounts have been subpoenaed.