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ILOILO CITY — Two persons of interest in connection with the murder of Slovak national Michaela Mickova in Boracay Island are now under police custody, the Malay Police Station confirmed.
Malay police chief LtCol. Mar Joseph Ravelo said the apprehended individuals were identified following testimonies from nine witnesses who provided crucial information linking the suspects to the incident.
One of the persons of interest was arrested in Sambiray, Malay, for possession of illegal substances, while the other one was apprehended in Balabag, Malay, for illegal possession of a firearm. Both arrests occurred a week after Mickova's body was discovered.
One of them already filed an affidavit of extrajudicial confession in the presence of legal representatives and is now part of the ongoing investigation.
Ravelo clarified that while they have persons of interest, no one has been officially declared a suspect as the case has not been formally filed.
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Despite the Special Investigation Task Group's investigation reaching 80 percent complete, Ravelo said police are still gathering additional evidence and awaiting the results of other forensic examinations to further strengthen the case.
Meanwhile, Aklan 2nd District Rep. Teodorico Haresco has announced a P100,000 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the suspect for the Slovak tourist's murder.
Haresco made the offer in a bid to expedite the investigation and bring justice to Michaela Mickova, whose body was found on March 12 in an abandoned chapel in Barangay Balabag, Malay, Aklan.
The representative also vowed to provide additional financial assistance if necessary to ensure the swift resolution of the case.
"This tragic incident is a severe blow to the tourism industry of Boracay. We must act swiftly and decisively to restore public trust and ensure the safety of visitors on the island," Haresco said.
PRO-6 spokesman LtCol. Arnel Solis reassured the public that Boracay and the province of Aklan remain safe and secure.
He added that PRO-6 also adjusted its deployment strategies to enhance safety, focusing not only on populated areas but also on less populated regions to ensure comprehensive coverage.
"We will strategize our deployment and the duty scheme of our personnel. Based on our enhanced managing operations, we will focus our deployment based on the needs of our policemen," he said.
The 23-year-old Slovak was found dead on March 12, in an abandoned chapel in Barangay Balabag, Boracay Island.
Her body was discovered in a state of decomposition, with initial findings indicating signs of blunt force trauma and sexual abuse.
