Noy adds P2 M for info on Davantes’ killers

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino added P2 million to raise to P2.5 million the reward offered by authorities for information that would lead to the arrest of suspects in the killing of advertising executive Kristelle “Kae” Davantes.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda confirmed yesterday that Aquino, who is still in Zamboanga City supervising the operations against the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), had called last Monday night Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. in Manila and instructed him to increase the reward by P2 million to get the killers of Davantes, 25, a senior account manager of McCann Worldgroup Philippines Inc.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Las Piñas City government earlier pooled a P500,000 reward for information on the case.

Las Piñas City Mayor Vergel Aguilar had offered P300,000, while the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) under Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. contributed P200,000.

The body of Davantes was found under a bridge in Dasmariñas, Cavite last Sept 7, just hours after she left a restaurant at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

Davantes was buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City last Sept. 15.

Lacierda brushed aside speculations that Aquino may have been disappointed with the slow pace of developments on the Davantes case, which could have been the reason why he gave additional funds for the immediate capture of the suspects.

“It’s not a question of disappointment. I suppose it’s a question of inducing people to help identify the killers... or the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” Lacierda said.

Chief Superintendent Christopher Laxa, director of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) on the Davantes case, said the reward would be a big help to police efforts to identify and arrest the suspects.

The PNP said any information may be reported to PNP SMS hotline 0917-8475757 or I-text mo kay Tsip 0917-847-5757 or Text PNP 2920.

The public can also use PNP NOC 0919-282-1142, trunk line (02) 723-0401 to 20 or via social media on Twitter @ireport_krimen and Facebook facebook.com/pnp.pio or go to the nearest police station.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II had assured Davantes’ family that the SITG under the NCRPO would continue the investigation until the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.

Police also believe that Davantes may have been killed by at least two assailants, who stabbed her five times and stuffed a handkerchief in her mouth.

Investigators are hopeful to get more evidence from the victim’s car that was abandoned by one of the suspects in Las Piñas.

Police said investigators have found five witnesses that claimed they saw the man that abandoned and burned the car of Davantes last Saturday night in Camella Homes Subdivision, Pamplona 3, Las Piñas.

Senior Superintendent Rolando Fajardo, head of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Metro Manila, confirmed that several witnesses have come out to help identify the suspect that abandoned the car.

“We already have a suspect,” he told reporters.

Fajardo said the police interviewed five witnesses and they are now checking the closed circuit television camera footage in the village that could help identify the suspect.

A resident at Camella Homes told The STAR that the suspect covered his face when the alarm of the car went off and immediately walked away from the corner of Silver and Nickel streets.

The suspect tried to burn Davantes’ car, a Toyota Altis with license plates PIM 966, but the vehicle’s alarm went off after thick smoke filled the car when the suspect burned clothes soaked in diesel oil. 

Police said residents claimed that the car was abandoned around midnight and the vehicle’s alarm caught the attention of passersby who also saw the smoke from the car. 

Investigators said the owner of a store near the place where the car was abandoned and several neighbors called the police, who responded to the crime scene. The storeowner said two of his customers saw the suspect walking away from the area.

Witnesses believe that the suspect is familiar with the village and knows his way around.

Members of the police Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) showed that all the seats of the car were removed and the smell of diesel oil was still strong. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Perseus Echeminada, Non Alquitran