Aurora Ma. Moynihan, the slain sister of actress Maritoni Fernandez, may have known her killers, police concluded yesterday after watching a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage retrieved near the crime scene.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) was able to obtain a copy of a CCTV footage, but the resolution was too low to determine the plate number of the suspects’ vehicle.
QCPD chief Senior Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said he believes the suspects were no strangers to Moynihan based from the two-minute clip showed to reporters.
The footage showed a dark grey Toyota Fortuner appearing from the direction of White Plains Subdivision around 1:50 a.m. (in its time stamp) in front of house No. 8 along Temple Drive in Barangay, Ugong Norte.
The vehicle seemed to be moving slowly and was stopping occasionally with its tail lights unsteadily flashing red.
The vehicle then continued to move toward Giraffe Street and appeared to have taken a U-turn and turned back.
It stopped at the sidewalk in front of the white house at 1:52 a.m.
The door at the back seat opened and a pair of feet was seen alighting from the car, whom police assume was Moynihan’s.
Seconds later, the person fell on the ground. No signs of gunshots flashed from the footage but witnesses said they heard sounds coming from the car.
Another person shortly alighted and then closed the door.
The crime took less than 30 seconds. The car sped off back towards south.
Witnesses found the bloodied Moynihan.
Beside her was a black bag containing R470 cash, four small sachets of suspected shabu and other drug paraphernalia, mobile phones, few pieces of jewelry, and other personal belongings.
Tucked on the side of victim’s body was a cardboard placard that reads: “Drug pusher ng mga celebrities, kasunod na kayo.”
Police, meanwhile, failed to retrieve footages from other CCTV cameras in the area. Barangay officials said the CCTVs were not working during the time of the crime.
Eleazar, however, is optimistic that the assailants will be arrested.
“Nung una, dalawa ang iniisip natin eh: pwede bang patay na ba o pinatay siya doon? Pero sa nakita natin wala naman kumaladkad,” he said.
The QCPD chief added that there appears to be no signs of struggle during the incident.
“Hindi natin sinasabing 100 percent, but most likely, alam na natin buhay siya nang bumaba. Ngayon, sa nakita natin, it’s unlikely binuhat siya at iniwanan lang,” he told reporters.
After confirming from the Southern Police District of Moynihan’s arrest in Taguig City last 2013, Eleazar said they also are now pursuing the investigation on her links to the illegal drug trade.
“Ayaw naman nating maiskandalo yung pamilya…focus pa rin ng investigation ay malaman kung sino ang suspects. But in doing so, we have to check on that (drug involvement). Mahirap natin isolve yan kung di natin aalamin lahat ng circumstances,” he reiterated.
He said her background may possibly lead to the killers, and also, contribute to the police’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs. (VANNE TERRAZOLA)