Task Force Kae: Case solved

MANILA, Philippines - With three suspects now in custody, the members of Task Force Kae consider the murder of advertising executive Kristelle “Kae” Davantes solved, task force head Chief Superintendent Christopher Laxa said yesterday.

Law enforcers from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) are scouring Metro Manila and nearby provinces for three more suspects in Davantes’ killing, he said.

“We have not received any surrender feelers from the remaining suspects. Our men and those from the NBI are still in the field hunting them down,” said Laxa in an interview. “We considered the case already solved.”

Laxa said they are processing the paperwork needed to file charges against Samuel Decimo, 19; Lloyd Enriquez, 19; and Jojo Diel, 30.

Decimo was arrested by the NBI in Bacoor, Cavite Friday. Hours later, Enriquez was traced by the Muntinlupa City police through the Honda Civic they used to snatch Davantes.

Diel surrendered to NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr. through the intercession of a retired police official and the parish priest of the St. Joseph Church in Las Piñas, Laxa said.

Reward spread out

When asked who will receive the P2.5-million reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects in Davantes’ murder, Laxa said it would be spread out among the participating government agencies and their informants.

Garbo has said that the NCRPO is not interested in the reward as he stressed that it should go to the proper informants.

After the deed 

Decimo said that after he killed Davantes upon reaching Silang, Cavite, he wiped the victim’s Toyota Altis clean to remove their fingerprints.

Laxa said the Honda City used by the suspects to snatch Davantes is owned by the girlfriend of Enriquez, who claimed it was his first time to join the group for a robbery.

The City, with plate number NYO-517, has a homeowner’s sticker for Moonwalk Subdivision in Las Piñas City, which allowed the suspects to cruise around the subdivision in search of victims. The suspects’ vehicle was earlier reported as either a Honda Civic or a Toyota Vios.