THE murder of a pro-Marcos vlogger in her Caloocan City home Friday sent shockwaves through the online community, with her supporters and fellow content creators demanding justice, while die-hard supporters of the Duterte clan that she regularly criticized cheered her death.
Alicia “Mima Alicia” Lipata, 24, was shot dead by two armed men who entered her home in Tierra Nova Subdivision in Caloocan City at 3 a.m. on Friday, July 17.
Lipata died from her injuries after running out into the street. Her 25-year-old live-in partner suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital.
The two killers fled the scene on a motorcycle.
The police have yet to ascertain the motive behind the killing but said a difference in political opinion is likely behind the shooting.
Culture of violence
Political analyst and former presidential adviser Ronald Llamas, speaking on the Friday episode of the Heckle and Jive podcast with former Mensa Philippines president and political commentator Chris Tan, said Lipata’s death was part of the culture of violence of the DDS — diehard Duterte supporters —known for their unquestioning loyalty to former president Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
“That’s the scary world of politics; several of our fellow Filipinos are wondering why violence is the way to these political conversations. Why can’t we have a good conversation, even if we disagree?” Tan asked Llamas.
“It’s a culture; they think they can get away with anything. So our law enforcement agencies should prove that these people can’t get away with this,” Llamas said in Filipino.
Tan also pointed out that several killers in high-profile cases had been DDS supporters, including the one who killed a motorcycle taxi driver in Cavite and the killer of radio commentator Percy Lapid, former director-general of the Bureau of Corrections Gerald Bantag, who served during the Duterte administration.
Tan asked why Duterte supporters regularly resort to violence or threats of violence. “Look at what they say [about their critics]. They say all of them should be killed,” he said in Filipino.
Security advice
Llamas called on vloggers and bloggers who speak for the truth to be careful, especially in their own homes.
“My advice to fellow vloggers and podcasters who speak for the truth ... those who propagate lies, this is not for you ... those who speak the truth, be very careful. Don’t be afraid,” he said in Filipino, noting that the killing had a chilling effect.
He suggested that vloggers and podcasters install CCTV cameras in their homes, be observant and take note of suspicious persons.
He also recommended not having a regular schedule of activities or breaking the pattern every so often because killers case their targets before they attack.
Llamas said that law enforcement agencies, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), need to prove that the killers cannot get away with what they did.
He also said that people like DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla should “level up.”
The analyst said those who have been receiving threats should report them to the NBI.
In response to the incident, the Northern Police District activated the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “Mima” — referring to Lipata’s nickname — to ensure a “focused, thorough and expeditious investigation” into her killing.
“The SITG has been directed to employ all available investigative and intelligence resources to identify, locate and apprehend the perpetrators and establish the motive behind this crime,” the NPD said.
Call for restraint
Before her death, Lipata had 362,000 subscribers on YouTube through her handle Alicia. Her last video posted on Thursday had 47,818 views as of Saturday.
ND Blogs, run by political commentator Nico David, mourned Lipata’s passing.
“I have seen many posts online already trying to explain what happened or pointing fingers. I respectfully ask everyone to exercise restraint. ... We should not judge or blame anyone without clear and sufficient evidence. The truth should come from a proper investigation, not from hearsay,” David wrote on Friday.
In several Facebook posts, Mindanao-based opposition activist Lovely Granada said several Duterte supporters were dancing on Lipata’s grave.
“Look at your comments and reactions — you even wish others would follow. You are literally celebrating!” Granada wrote on Friday.
“Mima has passed on and is finally at peace, free from this chaotic world. Your Tatay [former president Rodrigo Duterte], on the other hand, is very much alive — and feeling the shame for the whole world to see. From arrogance to prison,” she added in another post in Filipino on Saturday.
Another online blogger, Patrick Aquino, also recalled that Palace Press Officer Claire Castro was harassed by DDS in Vancouver, Canada, while the president was on a state visit.
He pointed out that a certain vlogger, Iloy Bugris, wanted to give money to those who killed Lipata.
Bugris, with the real name Jinky Avelino Miraflores Carpio, is an Ilongga vlogger based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She was known to promote conspiracy theories against the president.
“When Atty. Claire was harassed in Canada, a well-known DDS supporter called on people to send him the information and GCash number of the man who shouted at and cursed Atty. Claire. ... Now, regarding what happened to Mima Alicia, Iloy Bugris said in a video that people should message him with the identities of the suspects because he wanted to ‘GCash’ them (those were his exact words) and thank them [for killing her],” Aquino wrote on his Facebook handle in Filipino on Saturday.
“Since news broke about what happened to Mima Alicia, death threats against vloggers have become even more widespread. Is this now the new normal in the Philippines? Is the culture of violence and intimidation taking hold once again?” he added.
He urged government officials to act swiftly on Lipata’s killing.
Safety concerns
On forums like Reddit's r/Philippines, users expressed concern over the implications of the home invasion and shooting. Forum members are actively calling for the media to elevate the story to the national stage. The underlying sentiment across these threads is a stark recognition that if a high-profile creator with over 360,000 subscribers can be gunned down in her own rented home for her political speech, no digital commentator is safe.
