By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Two suspects in the fatal shooting of vlogger Alicia Lipata, popularly known as Mima Alicia, in Caloocan City have been arrested and will face murder charges, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday.
In a press briefing held in Camp Crame, PNP information chief and spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said the suspects – the 58-year-old alleged gunman and 48-year-old driver were arrested at around 8:20 a.m. on July 23 in Barangay Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga.
“The two were arrested in Mabalacat, Pampanga, and of course this was after the intensive investigation and follow-up operations conducted by the NPD (Northern Police District), especially the investigation task group Mima. They are the same two we saw if you were able to watch. If there is another video, they are the same culprits, they are the same ones who did what the witness says the two on a motorcycle stopped and killed alias Mima,” Co told reporters.
He said that during the police operation, the operatives recovered from the suspects two hand grenades, a 9 mm pistol, and a caliber.45 firearm believed to have been used in the killing.
He added that charges for murder and illegal possession of firearms will be filed against the arrested suspects.
Co also said that the motive behind the killing is still being investigated and that they were also looking for other individuals who may be connected to the case.
“We have received information that we cannot disclose yet as of now so as not to compromise our ongoing manhunt operations and investigation, but all I could say based on that information is that there were some other people involved,” the PNP spokesperson said.
Alicia was gunned down by a motorcycle-riding tandem last July 17 in Caloocan City.
Based on the initial report, at least two motorcycle-riding men perpetrated the attack in front of her house.
Neighbors rushed the vlogger and her partner to the hospital. (PNA)
