One of two drug suspects killed in a shootout with Quezon City policemen yesterday is linked to the slain sister of actress Maritoni Fernandez, according to a source privy to the ongoing investigation.
Leandro Antonio Kanahashi, 33, was identified through a driver’s license found in his possession.
Kanahashi and his unidentified companion, believed to be between 25 and 30 years old, shot it out with police operatives during a buy-bust operation at 2 a.m. in Mapagkumbaba Street, Area 7 in Barangay Botocan just beside the QC Police District headquarters in Camp Karingal.
The two suspects sold 10 sachets of suspected shabu for R15,000 to a poseur buyer.
After sensing the presence of policemen, the suspects pulled out their handguns, triggering a brief firefight.
Recovered from the crime scene were the suspects’ guns – a caliber .40 and a caliber .38 pistols.
Police said Kanahashi was a notorious and dangerous drug pusher operating not only in QC but also other cities in Metro Manila.
Kanahashi was one of the last persons who were in contact with Aurora Moynihan before her murder last Sept. 10 on Temple Drive in Barangay Ugong Norte, according to the source.
It was learned that Moynihan acted as middleman for Kanahashi’s celebrity clients based on the text messages retrieved from her mobile phone.
The source said Moynihan’s relatives pointed to a certain “LA” as their prime suspect, but were afraid to directly name him for fear of their lives.
LA was allegedly Moynihan’s boyfriend, according to relatives.
Kanahashi was the “LA” being referred to by Moynihan’s relatives, said the source. His name was in the list of Moynihan’s Facebook friends under the account of Aurora M. Rocha.
Moynihan’s body bore multiple gunshot wounds. Found near her body were four sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and a placard tagging her as supplier of illegal drugs to celebrities.
Footages from closed circuit television (CCTV) showed a dark gray Fortuner arriving on the scene before the fatal shooting.
The police report did not indicate whether Kanahashi and his cohort arrived aboard a vehicle.
Sought for comment, QCPD director Senior Supt. Guillermo Eleazar did not confirm or deny Kanahashi’s link with Moynihan.
“Actually, ipu-pursue natin yan, we will look for evidence. Mahirap kasi sabihin especially we don’t have basis for that,” Eleazar said. (VANNE ELAINE P. TERRAZOLA)