Model-trader slay stirs Davao City

GONE TOO SOON Murder victim Yvonette Chua Plaza, in this undated photo, models for photographers. —RUDOLPH IAN ALAMA

DAVAO CITY—Who killed Yvonette Chua Plaza?

This was the question foremost in the mind of residents here following the murder of a 38-year-old model and businesswoman just outside her home in Green Meadow subdivision of this city on Dec. 29.

The police on Sunday announced the creation of a task group to look into her murder following allegations that were getting viral on social media about the alleged involvement of a prominent law enforcement personality in the case.

‘Impartial probe’

Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo, regional police director of Davao, created the task group based on the request of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) for a deeper investigation into the murder of Plaza, who was shot at close range by one of two motorcycle-riding men after she disembarked from a Mitsubishi Montero sport utility vehicle and was about to enter her rented house at Green Meadow in Barangay Sto. Nino, Tugbok district, here at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 29. She was killed instantly.

Police Maj. Eudisan Gultiano, Davao regional police spokesperson, said the Task Group Yvonette would be composed of 11 police personnel headed by Police Col. Thor Valiente Cuyos, the deputy regional director for operations; DCPO director Col. Alberto Lupaz; and Davao region’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Randy Rajah Ramos.

“With the creation of Task Group Yvonette, the police regional office assures a fair, impartial and unbiased conduct of the investigation,” said Gultiano.

Gultiano said police would usually create a task group in cases when the victims involved included prominent personalities like politicians, or in some cases that are “sensational,” adding that Plaza’s case had so much “public interest” involved because of “speculations” generated by some posts on social media.

One of Plaza’s friends had posted an old photo taken in the previous year of the model’s mangled face and accusing a certain personality of doing it to her.

The photos generated wild speculations, prompting the family to release a statement asking netizens to stop fueling such speculations as they asked for justice for the victim.

Spare no one

Progressive groups on Sunday also asked authorities to spare “no sacred cows” in the probe and to investigate the alleged involvement of a top-ranking official in her murder.

Plaza had posted pictures of herself with bruises and cuts on her face and tagged a prominent law enforcement officer as allegedly behind the attack.

Gabriela condemned the shooting and said the now-viral post “invited serious questions on the worsening violence perpetrated against women by uniformed personnel.” INQ