New leads on bearer of gift bomb

MANILA, Philippines –  A task group formed to investigate the murder of a housewife in Taguig City last month has new leads on the identity of a woman who brought a gift-wrapped parcel bomb to the victim’s house in Parañaque City, an official said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Federico Castro, head of Task Group Mahogany and deputy director for operations of the Southern Police District, described the woman as a “mysterious lady in black” who is about 22 to 25 years old, five feet tall, with shoulder-length hair. The woman was seen wearing shades when she left the “gift” for Yvonne Chua at the victim’s former house in Barangay San Antonio last Dec. 28.

In an interview, Castro stressed the importance of finding the woman. “The task group firmly believes that the identity of this lady is the key,” he told The STAR.

According to Castro, they cannot yet publish the sketch of the woman because his team is still gathering information and releasing the sketch might jeopardize their operation.

Aside from searching for the woman, the task force is also investigating other suspects, including Chua’s immediate family. Police are still eyeing conflict over property as the strongest motive behind the killing, Castro said.

Chua was killed last Dec. 29 at her Mahogany Phase III residence in Taguig City after opening the gift, which contained five grenades. The box was brought to her by their driver, who picked up the package from the Parañaque house.