NBI files raps vs 6 Davantes slay suspects

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday filed its own criminal complaint against six men who were allegedly responsible for the death of advertising executive Kristelle “Kae” Davantes.

The bureau filed qualified carnapping, robbery, and obstruction of justice against Samuel Decimo, Lloyd Benedict Enrique, Jomar Pepito, Reggie Diel, Baser Minalang, and Jorick Evangelista before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

NBI- National Capital Region assistant regional director Vicente de Guzman explained that qualified carnapping was filed because the suspects took Davantes’ car – a Toyota Altis with plate number PIM-966 – and killed her in the process of stealing it.

He said the robbery charges stem from the suspects taking Davantes’ P3,000, two cell phones and laptop. They will also be charged with obstruction of justice because they cleaned and tried to set fire to her car.

Agent Emilito Santos Jr. explained that no homicide charges were filed because the qualified carnapping case will “already absorb the homicide case.”

Santos added that the NBI’s case will stand as a separate complaint to that filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) before the DOJ last Monday. The DOJ filed Thursday a case for the special complex crime of robbery and homicide against Diel and Enriquez before the Las Piñas regional trial court.

Decimo was not yet included in the case filed in court while the charges against Evangelista, Pepito and Minalang have been set for further investigation. Minalang is the only one who remains at large.

The DOJ dropped the PNP’s charge for qualified carnapping. Investigating prosecutor said the suspects only took Davantes’ car to “safely distance themselves” or to prevent the victim from immediately reporting the incident to authorities.”

Davantes, 25, was one step away from entering her house in Moonwalk Subdivision in Las Piñas City on Sept. 7 when the suspects snatched her. They brought her to Silang, Cavite where Decimo, acting on a the group’s alleged consensus, stabbed her to death.

Decimo said Davantes was a robbery victim picked at random.

Meanwhile, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi commended Senior Superintendent Roque Vega, Police Officer 2 Reynold Aguirre and PO1 Pedro Delgado for arresting Enriquez, 18, in Barangay Cupang on Sept. 21 after receiving a tip.

“We are grateful for this development in the case, and to the prompt and decisive action of our police force,” Fresnedi said.

He also expressed his condolences to Davantes’ family and friends, saying “bringing these suspects to justice is the least we can do.” – With Perseus Echeminada