EDITORIAL - Justice for Kae

Even as the nation is preoccupied with corruption scandals, ruthless criminals aren’t taking a break. Last Friday, Kristelle “Kae” Davantes enjoyed a night out with colleagues in Bonifacio Global City before heading home at around 1 a.m. on Saturday. It was the last time the 25-year-old account manager of McCann Worldgroup Philippines MRM was seen alive.

Davantes’ body was found under a bridge in Silang, Cavite on Saturday morning. She had been stabbed repeatedly and strangled apparently with a laptop cable. A handkerchief was stuffed in her mouth and she was hogtied with a seatbelt. As of yesterday, the Toyota Altis that she drove remained missing, and police had no leads on the perpetrators. The brutality of the killing has compounded the grief of her relatives and friends.

Extra effort is needed in tracking down those responsible, not only to give justice to Davantes and her loved ones but also to ensure that no one else is victimized by her killer(s). If a carjacking ring was involved, it would not be the first time that such viciousness was seen in a homicide related to car theft. Victims of such rings, among them a son of lawyer Oliver Lozano, have been found dead with torture marks or else burned beyond recognition.

Davantes’ killing comes on the heels of a failed armed robbery at a supermarket in Pasig that left three employees and one of the gunmen dead. The other robbers have not been caught. Elsewhere, less serious crimes threaten public safety: gunmen rob a bakeshop, 24-hour convenience stores, people passing through dimly lit spots. Many victims do not bother reporting petty thievery, writing off mobile phones and jewelry taken by snatchers, or aluminum ladders stolen from their homes by burglars.

Law enforcers must do a better job of keeping people safe, whether in the streets, at home or in public places. Failure to prevent criminality or arrest suspects will encourage a repeat of the offenses. If Davantes’ ruthless killers roam free, they can be expected to strike again.