A masseuse was arrested on Friday, Jan. 6, by Pasay City police operatives for allegedly killing a 22-year-old woman over the latter’s failure to return the cellular phone she borrowed on Christmas Day.
Col. Byron Tabernilla, Pasay City Police chief, identified the suspect as Michelle Lapira, alias Che-Che, 47, a resident of Barangay Sto. Niño, Pasay City.
The victim was identified as Lyka Tolero, 22, of 1847 Tankian St., Pasay City.
Tabernilla said Lapira was arrested at about 10 a.m. last Friday in a follow-up operation conducted by members of the Station Intelligence Section and the Sub-Station 1 in front of Immaculate Conception Church in Imus, Cavite.
The city police chief said the victim borrowed Lapira’s cellular phone on Dec. 25, 2022 but failed to return it.
Tabernilla said Lapira confronted the victim after a few days for failure to return her cellular phone, triggering an argument between them.
During their quarrel, the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim in the body with a bladed weapon.
Tolero was brought at the Pasay City General Hospital where she died while undergoing treatment.
Based on the CCTV footage submitted to the police, the suspect left the place after committing the crime. She went into hiding in Imus, Cavite.
The suspect is now detained at the police custodial facility.