Two suspects were arrested Thursday morning in connection with the killing of vlogger Alicia ‘Mima Alicia’ Lipata, reportedly a supporter of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
Lipata was gunned down by the motorcycle-riding tandem in Caloocan City on July 17.
The suspects were tracked to Mabalacat City, Pampanga, PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co told reporters in a briefing at Camp Crame.
He identified the gunman by the alias ‘M.S.,’ a 58-year-old man from Caloocan City, and the motorcycle rider by the alias ‘J.A.,’ a 48-year-old man from Cavite.
Co also said M.S. has multiple prior cases but did not elaborate.
Operatives recovered two hand grenades, a caliber .45 pistol and a 9mm pistol from the arrested suspects, according to the PNP.
‘We believe that the caliber .45 pistol is the same firearm used in the killing of the vlogger,’ Co explained.
The two suspects were taken into police custody and are awaiting charges for murder and violations of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and RA No. 9516, which pertains to the illegal possession of explosives.
Co said investigators were still looking into whether the motive behind Lipata’s killing was related to her 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 explained.
‘Around 15 or 20 minutes before Lipata arrived at her home, these two suspects entered. It points to the fact that some other people were looking or surveilling the victim’s movements,’ he added.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously said police investigators were looking into the suspects’ alleged connection to a criminal syndicate ‘based in the south