PLDT exec’s wife killing: Police comb CCTV footages

Police investigators are combing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footages along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and a community in Biñan, Laguna, for leads to the killers of the wife of an executive of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).

Senior Superintendent Florendo Saligao, Laguna police director, said Tuesday morning they already requested the Manila Toll Expressway System Inc. for a copy of their CCTV footage of the traffic along the SLEx.

Saligao said they would use the video footage as a starting point in investigating the murder of Gloria Gonzales, 47, wife of John Gonzales, PLDT vice president and head of corporation relationship management.

The body of Gonzales was found inside her Toyota Innova van that was abandoned along J. Gonzales Street, Barangay (village) San Vicente, Biñan, last June 28.

BACKSTORY: Wife of PLDT exec found dead
Speaking to radio dzMM, Saligao said it was likely that Gonzales was killed somewhere else and her van and decomposing body were only left in Biñan.

“Kung makikita natin ang estado ng bangkay ay hindi mangyayari na doon pinatay,” (Judging by the state of her remains, it would show that she was not killed there) he said, noting that the remains of Gonzales were already exuding foul odor and bodily secretions.

READ: Slain wife of PLDT exec died of head blows

Earlier reports said that Gonzales was last seen on June 25, leaving their house in Parañaque City on her way to Cavite. The last mobile transmission from the victim’s phone was detected in Barangay Acasia, Silang, Cavite, at 2:30 p.m. of that day.

Had the assailants killed Gonzales in Cavite and brought her to Laguna using her van, it would be possible that her killers passed through the SLEx.

Saligao explained that SLEx video footage could show “kung saan nanggaling [yung sasakyan ng biktima]—sa south o sa north, kung saan pumasok o saan lumabas at anong oras.” (Video footage could show where [the victim’s vehicle] came from—from the south or the north, where it entered and where it exited and what time.)

The police official also said that his men were combing houses in Barangay San Vicente, especially along J. Gonzales, for CCTV video that could help in their investigation.

Of special interest to police are the several few hours before 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Saligao said “three hours before the van was found, there was another vehicle parked on the spot where it was abandoned.”

He maintained that police believed the killing of Gonzales was related to her jewelry business. CB