Davantes slay probe Cops focus on Las Piñas CCTV video

MANILA, Philippines - Investigators are focusing on a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showing a car similar to that driven by slain ad firm executive Kristelle Davantes entering the gates of Moonwalk Subdivision in Las Piñas City on the day she was reported missing, then leaving the subdivision 10 minutes later, an official said yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Christopher Laxa, head of the Task Group Kae, admitted they are not very sure as yet whether the silver-gray Toyota Altis is that of Davantes as they could not ascertain its plate number.

“The footage was taken against the light of the guardhouse so the plate number you could see was all white. We sought the help of experts but, they too, could not enhance the image,” Laxa said in an interview. The plate number of Davantes’ car, which is metallic beige, is PIM-966.

Based on another surveillance video, Davantes’ Altis entered the South Luzon Expressway at 1:19 a.m. on Sept. 7 and exited at Filinvest tollgate at 1:31 a.m., heading toward her house in Moonwalk Subdivision.

The Toyota Altis entered the Moonwalk Subdivision gate at about 1:39 a.m. and the CCTV footage showed the vehicle leaving through the same gate 10 minutes later, Laxa said.

If the vehicle is that of Davantes, Laxa said it shows that the victim did not reach their family residence before driving out again.

Laxa said Task Group Kae is now concentrating their efforts in determining whether the Toyota Altis in the video is the one being driven by Davantes.

“We are focusing our efforts in the said video footage. But we are also examining other CCTV footage in our possession that might help us solve this case,” said Laxa.

A reward of P2 million is being offered for information leading to the arrests of the suspects in the Davantes slay but as of yesterday Laxa said they have had no major breakthroughs.

He said they are now conducting a background investigation on Davantes as one of the angles they are pursuing is that the victim knew her killers.

“We were told by her brother that the victim is very secretive with regards to her love life. But we wanted to know more about her as those information might help us in our effort to unmask her killers,” he added.

Davantes’ body was found under a bridge in Barangay Sabutan in Silang, Cavite at around 6 a.m. on Sept. 7. The car she drove – stripped of its license plates and identified through its conduction sticker – was found in Camella Homes Subdivision in Las Piñas on Sept. 15.