Police checking if ditched taxi used in killing Papadom's widow

Authorities are now investigating an abandoned taxi recovered in Cavite in connection with the death of Teng Gamboa, the widow of the late reggae musician Dominic "Papadom" Gamboa of Tropical Depression.

According to the police, the cab has been tagged as a stolen vehicle from Pasay City. Its markings have been erased and investigators said blood was in the passenger seat.

Chief Inspector Shirley Bao of Makati Police said previous victims of robbers who posed as taxi drivers reported that the same taxi was used in robbing them.

Several allegedly stolen items have been found in the abandoned taxi, but the police have yet to confirm if these include some of Gamboa's belongings.

"Mayroon nang ibang biktima ng pangho-holdap itong taxi na ito. May mga gamit doon na nakuha na ipapakita namin sa relatives ni Mrs. Gamboa para may ma-identify sila doon na gamit ni Mrs. Gamboa," Bao said.

Blood samples

Blood samples were collected from the seat belt and the handbrake. Scene of Crime Operatives (SOCO) are checking if the blood is Gamboa's.

Police Inspector Roman Salazar noted that Gamboa was possibly the victim of "fake taxi" drivers who prey on women.

"Posibleng biktima si Gamboa ng mga pekeng taxi driver na ang modus ay mang-agaw ng taxi at mamick-up ng pasahero, ideally babae, para holdapin," he said in a report on GMA News' News to Go on Monday.

The Philippine National Police in Makati City has received similar complaints about "fake" taxi drivers, but this is the first time that the modus operandi has resulted in death, Salaza said.

Precaution vs. 'fake' taxi drivers

Gamboa's family warned commuters to take extra precautions when taking a taxi.

"Kunan or i-text agad ang number and identification ng driver," Gamboa's brother, Francis Sta. Romana, recommended.

"Pero ang dami kasing kuwento na modus operandi, eh. Nag-aantay sa loob o may sasakay along the way," he added.

Gamboa was first reported missing early Wednesday, February 11.

She usually sends to her son, Nico, a text message after leaving the office at 2:30 a.m., Sta. Romana said, noting that her sister's family got worried they didn't receive any message from her.

"We tried calling. Until 7 p.m. nagri-ring pa phone niya, but (by) 7 p.m., cannot be reached na," Gamboa's brother said.

"Either the battery died or may kumuha na," he added.

"She was supposed to meet up with a friend when she gets home, but it didn't push through," her son, Nico, noted.

"I even contacted the friend in the morning and he said it didn't push through."

CCTV

CCTV footages from her office building and a nearby bank showed Gamboa texting as she was walking.

Her family is asking establishments in the area to check if they have more footage from Wednesday.

"'Yung sakayan is just at the corner, after Rada Street. All of those establishments, I'm pretty sure – Makati pa 'yan – would have CCTV. We just want to establish kung anong sinakyan niya," Sta. Romana said.

Gamboa's body was found in a dump near Kalayaan Avenue with a gunshot wound in the head. Investigators were looking into theft as the motive

Papadom was the vocalist and a founding member of '90s reggae band Tropical Depression. He passed away in 2013. His family did not officially disclose the cause of death. – Aya Tantiangco and Bianca Rose Dabu/VS/KBK, GMA News