PNoy wants swift justice for slain ad manager

(Updated 8:56 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III has ordered Metro Manila police to solve "as soon as possible" the killing of advertising manager Kristelle Davantes, whose body was found in Cavite last Saturday morning hours after she was last seen at the Bonifacio Global City.

“I was instructed by the President to personally oversee the investigation [into the death] of Kristelle Davantes,” National Capital Region Police Office head Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr. told reporters Wednesday afternoon.

“Ang gusto ni Presidente as soon as possible ma-solve ang krimen na ito. 'Yun naman ang kailangan din natin at dapat ine-expect ng publiko,” he added.

Upon receiving the President's orders, the NCRPO formed a special investigation task force which will be supervised by Chief Supt. Christopher Laxa, deputy regional director for operations.

“Ang ginawa po natin ay in-organize natin at systematize ang pag-iimbestiga ng pagkamatay ni Kristelle. Ini-integrate ang lahat ng PNP intelligence na nagtatrabaho,” Garbo said, adding that this will allow them to obtain leads at the soonest possible time.

Garbo and other NCRPO officials went to Davantes' wake Tuesday evening to talk to her family.

In a separate interview, Laxa said they were able to get information necessary for the investigation. However, he said the family has no idea who could have killed Davantes.

No enemies

"Wala silang ma-relay sa amin na kaaway...Wala kaming makuha pa. So bukas baka sakaling may makuha kami," he said.

He said they will also be releasing a number where those who have information about Davantes' death can call or send a text message.

Laxa added that they already checked the CCTV footage from the areas where the 25-year-old Davantes was in.

“Initially nag-check na kami ng CCTV ang nakuha lang namin so far sa parking area na last na pinanggalingan nya. Unfortunately, along C5 wala 'ata kaming nakuha doon,” he said.

He was referring to the footage from BGC CCTV cameras showing Davantes' Toyota Altis turning from 20th Avenue to 9th Avenue from an open parking area at 1:10 a.m. Saturday after the victim spent a night socializing with friends.

The Altis, with plate number PIM 966, was still missing as of posting time.

Late-night text messages

A report on GMA News' "24 Oras" said Davantes was able to communicate with her relatives shortly after Friday midnight.

“She was able to text her sister na she was on the way home. At about 2 a.m. of [the] same day, she was again able to text a relative,” said Senior Superintendnet Arthur Felix Asis of the Taguig City Police.

Asis said personal grudge could be a motive in the killing, although they are not dismissing other angles.

“It appears na parang may galit 'yung gumawa 'nun," he said, adding that Davantes was not raped.

Laxa said they are coordinating with the administration of South Luzon Expressway and Skyway to check their CCTV. “Mga entry points at exit points ng SLEX. Baka today [Wednesday] or early tomorrow [Thursday] makakuha kami,” he said.

The police will also try to get information from a telecommunications company about Davantes' last phone conversations.   — with Rie Takumi/BM/KBK, GMA News