PNP Probes Online Ties in Slay of Pro-Marcos Vlogger

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday ordered a full investigation into the fatal shooting of a female vlogger supporting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Caloocan City, with investigators looking into a possible link between her online activities and the attack. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) was directed to pursue all possible angles, including the victim’s social media presence and online engagements. In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said he expects investigators to conduct a thorough probe, particularly into the possibility that the attack was linked to the victim’s activities as a political vlogger. Earlier, NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo said the vlogger was a “BBM (Bongbong Marcos) loyalist” based on her social media posts. READ: ‘Pro-Marcos vlogger’ dead, 1 hurt in Caloocan City shooting Initial police reports showed that two motorcycle-riding suspects shot the victim outside her residence in Caloocan on Friday morning. Residents who heard the gunfire rushed to the scene and brought the woman and her partner to a hospital. “Violence has no place in a society where freedom of expression is honored and respected,” Nartatez said in a statement. “There may be differences in beliefs and opinion, but we in the PNP commit to uphold and protect the right to express them—and this includes aggressively running after those responsible in this case,” Nartatez added. The Anti-Cybercrime Group was ordered to assist investigators by reviewing the victim’s social media posts and online content. The NCRPO was also tasked with providing security for the surviving partner, who remains hospitalized. “We assure them of the PNP’s commitment to identify and arrest all those responsible in the interest of truth and justice,” Nartatez said, extending his condolences to the victim’s family and supporters. /mcm