PNP hunts down other Lipata killers

MANILA, Philippines —  After the arrest of two suspects in the killing of pro-Marcos vlogger Alicia Lipata, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. yesterday ordered PNP units to intensify the manhunt for other people involved in the crime.

Nartatez said police are looking for several other suspects believed to have played a role in the planning and execution of the ambush on Lipata, popularly known as Mima Alicia.

“We will not stop until all those involved are arrested,” Nartatez said.

Two suspects in Lipata’s murder were arrested in Barangay Dau in Mabalacat City, Pampanga on Thursday. The two were identified through closed-circuit television footage and other pieces of evidence, which the Northern Police District (NPD) obtained.

Lipata was shot dead in front of her house in Barangay 171 in Caloocan last week. Her live-in partner survived the attack and is recuperating from wounds.

Nartatez lauded the NPD and other police units involved in the investigation and operations to arrest the suspects.

“From almost no clues, your police were able to identify and eventually arrest two suspects,” he said.

Anti-quishing drive intensified

Meanwhile, the PNP is intensifying its drive against scammers using fake quick response or QR codes to protect consumers from fraudulent online transactions.

Nartatez said the PNP is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry in addressing the proliferation of fraudulent QR codes circulating on online selling platforms.

He vowed to identify and file charges against the people behind the fake QR codes used to deceive online sellers and buyers.

The Anti-Cybercrime Group earlier warned the public against “quishing,” a scam where people are duped into transacting with fraudulent QR codes. The scam involves the use of malicious QR codes that redirect victims to fake websites designed to steal personal information, banking credentials, passwords and other data.

“These QR codes are supposed to simplify payment transactions on online selling platforms. However, criminals are exploiting them to victimize and scam the public for their own gain,” Nartatez said.

He urged people to be vigilant, verify the given QR code and to report to the nearest police station if they encounter a possible quishing operation.