Widow, family driver tagged in trader's slay

Police arrested Saturday the widow of a Valenzuela City trader killed in a reported heist on Christmas Day and their family driver after witnesses and recovered evidence allegedly linked them to the crime.

The suspects, Janette Ane, 46, wife of slain trader Antonio Ane, 46, a resident of Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City, and her driver Danilo Salvid, 27, a resident of Barangay Sauyo, Novaliches, Quezon City, are now locked up at the Valenzuela City police detention cell.

They are facing robbery with homicide charges before the Valenzuela City prosecutor’s office, but police said the case could be elevated to murder, depending on the evidence.

Just before midnight Thursday, the victim, who owned a furniture business, was shot dead by two gunmen while he was about to enter their house in Barangay Ugong.

The gunmen took the victim’s wallet, which Janette said contained P50,000, and fled.

Police recovered from the crime scene two shells for a .45 caliber pistol.

Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio, Valenzuela City police chief, directed his men to dig deeper into the case.

Police later discovered that there were three suspects in the crime and that they used a new white Ford Everest as getaway vehicle.

Investigators traced the Ford Everest, still without license plates, to Salvid’s house in Quezon City. It was registered to Janette.

Police said Janette bought the vehicle last Dec. 5 and entrusted it to her driver, with whom they said she was having an illicit affair.

During interrogation, Salvid reportedly told police that it was Janette who allegedly ordered her husband killed to “wipe out” the hindrance in their relationship.

The driver showed the police photos of him and Janette in his cell phone as proof of their alleged “forbidden” affair.

SPO2 Jesus Sagisi said Janette denied the driver’s allegations but admitted her husband once tried to hurt her because of jealousy.

The police are looking into the “crime of passion” angle as the most probable motive in the case but Sagisi refused to comment, claiming they are “still in the thick” of their investigation.