Red cab is key to Nida murder?

A red taxicab may hold the key to last year’s most celebrated murder case.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking at a red Toyota Corolla with plate number PVK-714 and Agip Transport markings which was believed to have played a crucial part in the events that led to the killing of multi-awarded actress Nida Blanca on Nov. 7 in San Juan.

NBI agents said they found the red taxi cab last week after a two-month search. It was allegedly sold shortly after the day Blanca, or Dorothy Jones in real life, was murdered.

According to investigators, the taxi cab was believed to have been used by the actress or someone she knew in leaving the Atlanta Center building in Greenhills, San Juan on Nov. 7. Blanca worked in the said building as an official of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). The following morning after she was reported missing, her body was found inside her Nissan Sentra car which remained parked in the said building.

The taxi cab being probed by the NBI reportedly had bloodstains in the seat cover of its rear seat. An NBI source said the blood would be analyzed to find out if it was that of the late actress.

"The bloodstains will be subjected to a DNA test. If the blood is Blanca’s, this would be a major development," the source said.

NBI agents also invited yesterday for questioning the driver of the impounded taxicab whom they refused to identify.

"The driver who ferried the passengers said he brought them to 28 Nathan Street which is the actress’ house in White Plains at 2 a.m. of Nov. 7. He also described the three passengers," the NBI source said.

The source said the driver’s account matched the logbook entry of security guards at the White Plains.

Meanwhile, the family and friends of Blanca attended a Mass at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City the other day to mark her 66th birthday.

Her longtime friends from show business such as actor Nestor de Villa, dramatic actress Caridad Sanchez, comedienne Nova Villa and others wore white t-shirts printed with "Justice for Nida".

Blanca‘s husband Rod Strunk, who was once considered a suspect in the killing, also attended the event even though he was not invited. He remained distant from Blanca’s family, particularly Blanca’s only daughter Kay Torres all throughout the proceedings.

Strunk was cleared by authorities after a supposed key witness – Philip Medel – who initially admitted to the killing, retracted his testimony and accused the police of torturing him to confess.

The NBI said it would again consider Strunk a suspect if he will continue to refuse a lie-detector test.