Filipino-Chinese businessman Cong Yuan Guo, more widely known as Anton Tan, and his driver Armanie Pabillo were found dead in Rodriguez, Rizal, nearly two weeks after their kidnapping in Bulacan, according to reports from ABS-CBN News and The Philippine STAR.
Tan, the owner of Elison Steel in Valenzuela, was abducted along with his driver on March 29. Their bodies were discovered with hands tied and faces wrapped in duct tape inside nylon sacks, a grim find that has sparked national outrage and calls for urgent government action.
Civic leader Teresita Ang-See confirmed the deaths on April 10 and urged the public to refrain from sharing images of the victims online out of respect for the families.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) remained silent about the case until Wednesday night. Reliable sources told The STAR that PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group chief Elmer Ragay has since been relieved of his post and replaced by David Poklay of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
The victims’ vehicle, a Lexus LM350, was earlier found abandoned in Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City, on April 8. The Tan family had previously disclosed that the kidnappers demanded a ransom worth millions of dollars.
In a strong statement, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) condemned the murders, calling them an “assault on the soul of our nation.” The group described the crime as more than a tragedy, labeling it an “atrocity” and a sign of a deeper societal crisis.
“This is not merely a criminal act,” the FFCCCII said, “but a blow to investor confidence, a threat to public safety, and an insult to justice.”
The federation is demanding swift, transparent justice for Tan and Pabillo, asserting that their deaths must serve as a wake-up call for a broader systemic reform to restore public trust and ensure security for all.
As of writing, police officials in the Calabarzon region, including regional director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas, have declined to offer further details. Investigations are ongoing.
