TWO suspects in the killing of political commentator and vlogger Alicia “Mima Alicia” Lipata were arrested on Thursday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
Lipata was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen outside her residence in Barangay 171, Caloocan City, in an attack that also critically wounded her partner.
PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co told reporters in a briefing at Camp Crame that the suspects were nabbed in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
The first was identified by the alias “M.S.,” a 58-year-old from Caloocan City. M.S. was said to be the gunman while the motorcycle driver from Cavite province was identified as alias “J.A.”
Co said M.S. has multiple prior cases but did not elaborate.
Police recovered two hand grenades, one.45-caliber pistol and a 9 mm pistol from the suspects.
The two were taken into police custody and will be charged with murder and violations of Republic Act 10591, or the Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives.
Co said investigators are still looking into whether the motive behind the killing was related to Lipata’s political statements or personal life.
“We have received information that we cannot disclose yet as of now so as not to compromise our ongoing operations... But all I could say is based on that information, there are some other people involved,” Co said.
“Around 15 or 20 minutes before Lipata arrived at her home, these two suspects entered. It points to the fact that other people were looking or surveilling the victim’s movements,” Co added.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously said police investigators were looking into the suspects’ alleged connection to a criminal syndicate based in the south.
