AKLAN – A person of interest in the killing of a Slovak tourist in Boracay Island in Malay town here is now in police custody, according to Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Brigadier General Jack Wanky.
He, however, said that the person was arrested in a separate drug buy-bust operation.
Authorities were also looking for other people the victim, 23-year-old Michaela Mickova, was last seen with.
Police were building up a case for eventual filing as of this writing.
“Actually, ang kapulisan natin they are really doing their best. Alam nila kung gaano ka-fragile yung situation sa Boracay. Anything na mangyari gaya niyan relating sa peace and order, ay talagang malaki ang effect,” Wanky said in a Teleradyo Serbisyo interview on Sunday, March 16.
He added there are enough police officers on the island but that putting up more closed-circuit television cameras would help them keep Boracay safer.
Meanwhile, stakeholders on the island have also pledged a reward of up to P500,000 for information leading to the arrest of people linked to the incident.
Despite the incident, Wanky said Boracay is safe.
Police consider Mickova’s disappearance and death an isolated case and that they are working to solve the case as soon as possible, Wanky said.
“This is the first time. Saka hindi naman talaga nangyayari — wala naman talagang ganitong mga pangyayari,” he said, citing police records on the popular resort island. “Walang ganoong insidente in the past. Ngayon lang po nangyari.”
Mickova had been reported missing last Tuesday, March 11, and found dead the next day in an abandoned chapel behind the beachfront.
She was in the country to attend a friend’s wedding.
Police said she may have been robbed because a belt bag where she kept her camera and mobile phone has been reported missing.
Wanky added she may have been sexually abused, based on autopsy findings. (ABS-CBN News)/PN
