NBI ‘reenacts’ Davantes slay

Bea Cupin

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

The NBI brings along with them 19-year-old suspect Samuel Decimo

REENACTMENT. A Silang local tells investigators where they found Kae Davantes' body. Photo by Bea Cupin/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives on Wednesday, September 25, “reenacted” the abduction and killing of 25-year-old Kae Davantes. 

Davantes went missing around 1:00 am Saturday, September 7, after a night out in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Her body was later found in Silang, Cavite. She was robbed, her hands were tied, and her mouth gagged. She bore 5 stab wounds — one on her neck. 

Several developments have occurred since Davantes was laid to rest a week after her death. Late Friday, September 20, the NBI caught 19-year-old Samuel Decimo, a suspect in the killing of Davantes. The same night, Decimo confessed to the media that he stabbed Davantes. 

READ: Suspect in Kae Davantes murder arrested

Decimo promised the NBI he would help in their investigation. This week, Decimo lived up to that promise, revealing the names of his companions in the killing of Davantes. Three suspects have been arrested by the police, while 2 remain at large:

  1. Reggie Diel (under arrest)
  2. Lloyd Benedict Enriquez (under arrest)
  3. Kelvin Jorek Evangelista (at large)
  4. Jomar Pepito (under arrest)
  5. Baser Minalang (at large)

From Moonwalk to Silang 

Decimo was also brought to the crime scene during the reenactment of Davantes’ killing. 

NBI National Capital Region Assistant Director Vicente de Guzman III said the reenactment would help corroborate Decimo’s statements. 

We found it proper na ilagay [si Decimo] dito sa site mismo, sa crime scene, base sa kanyang explanation,” said De Guzman. (We found it proper to bring Decimo to the crime scene based on his explanation.) 

Davantes made it to the front of her house in Moonwalk Village, Las Piñas city. As she was about to open the house gates, Decimo’s companions jumped out from a different vehicle, forcing the 25-year-old back into her own car before they drove off to Cavite.

 

The NBI team, accompanied by members of the media, drove to Silang, Cavite where Decimo and his companions  stabbed Davantes and dumped her body. Decimo said he wasn’t sure if Davantes was already dead when they threw her over the bridge. 

The road there, even during daytime, is deserted. Some patches are void of human activity with no street lights. The bridge is an hour’s drive from Las Pinas. 

NBI Laguna agent-in-charge Moises Tamayo said the road was likely to be as deserted the night Davantes was killed. Tamayo estimates it took Decimo and the other suspects roughly the same time to reach the bridge, consistent with testimonies from Silang locals. 

Investigators believe Davantes was abducted from her home a little before 2 am. Residents said they heard dogs barking outside an hour after that. 

KAE'S DEATH. Suspect Samuel Decimo returns to the bridge where he and 5 others dumped Kae Davates' body. Photo by Bea Cupin/Rappler

Witness? 

Decimo, whose face was covered in towels and who was asked to wear a baseball cap, was cooperative during the reenactment. He narrated how, and where they were the night, they killed Davantes. He doesn’t remember what she was wearing that night. “It was too dark,” Decimo told investigators. 

His lawyer, Marc Anthony Patriarca, hopes Decimo’s cooperation would downgrade his charges. Decimo and 5 other suspects face charges of qualified carnapping and robbery with homicide.  

We are hoping na pagdating sa court ma-mitigate yung kaso niya. Ngayon kung gagawin siyang witness, depende na sa authorities yun,” Patriarca said. (We are hoping that in court, the crime would be mitigated. Whether he will be made a witness will depend on authorities.)

Decimo denied the claim of another suspect that he (Decimo) was the mastermind of the killing. Decimo also denied suggesting they kill Davantes in the first place. 

The Davantes family welcomed the new developments in the case, but as they’ve always said, they welcome it with cautious hearts and minds.

Kae and her family, her uncle Vince Davantes said, can be truly at peace only when her killers are brought to court. -Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Avatar photo

author

Bea Cupin

Bea is a senior multimedia reporter who covers national politics. She's been a journalist since 2011 and has written about Congress, the national police, and the Liberal Party for Rappler.