NBI to question Nida’s showbiz friends

As the National Bureau of Investigation expands its investigation of the murder of Nida Blanca, probers said they will invite the late actress’ friends in the showbiz world for questioning.

According to NBI spokesman Ric Diaz, probers are now exploring the "second ring" of the murder investigation as those closest to Blanca, including her househelp were already questioned.

"We are going to the second level involving people close to Blanca but outside her immediate family. It may involve some movie stars close to her, who might be in possession of facts that may help the investigation," Diaz said.

Diaz refused to say who among Blanca’s showbiz friends would be shortly called by the NBI for questioning. He also stressed that those who will be invited for questioning are not considered suspects in the case.

As these developed, Diaz told reporters that the NBI would lay off the "casino angle" for the moment. This, after Kay Torres, daughter of Blanca, insisted that the woman in the video footage taken at the Casino Filipino on the night of Nov. 6 was not her mother.

The NBI earlier quoted witnesses as saying that Blanca, accompanied by a "tomboyish-looking" woman, was at the Casino Filipino in Parañaque City between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. last Nov. 6. Blanca’s murdered body was found the following morning at the 6th floor parking area of the Atlanta Center building in Greenhills, San Juan. – Mike Frialde