Wife of alleged mastermind in online sellers' slay charged with double murder

A complaint for double murder has been filed against the wife of the alleged mastermind of the killing of married online sellers Arvin and Lerma Lulu.

According to a ''24 Oras'' report by Jun Veneracion on Friday, the Philippine National Police will also request a lookout bulletin order with the Bureau of Immigration to monitor her whereabouts should she attempt to leave the country.

“Base doon sa ating mga statements of witnesses and other evidence ay kasama siya kapag nagkakaroon ng pag-uusap yung mastermind at yung mga gunmen,” said PNP PRO-3 Regional Director Police Brigadier General Redrico Maranan.

(Based on the statements of witnesses and other evidence, she was present every time the mastermind and gunmen would talk.)

The relatives of the Lulu couple found it incomprehensible that the suspects attended the wake, acting as if they had no involvement in their deaths.

Seven suspects, including the alleged mastermind, are now in police custody.

The alleged mastermind had a P13 million debt after availing beauty products from the victims.

Further investigation conducted by authorities also revealed that the suspects also have debts with another online seller in Nueva Ecija worth P27 million.

“So lumalabas parang modus operandi na nila ‘yun, na mangungutang [at] mag ii-issue ng tseke at later on ipapatay yung kanilang inutangan,” added Maranan.

(It turns out that it was their modus operandi, to borrow money [and] to issue a check, and later on order a hit on the people they were indebted to.)

During a visit by Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla in Pampanga, he directed the eradication of gun-for-hire groups in Central Luzon to ensure a peaceful conduct of the May 2025 national elections.

“Notorious ang region na ito sa guns-for-hire. I gave them na deadline na bago matapos ang March, dapat makuha na lahat ‘yan,” he said.

(This region is notorious for guns-for-hire. I gave them a deadline to gather all of them before the end of March.)  

The couple was shot dead inside their car in Mexico, Pampanga, on October 4.

Based on CCTV footage, a motorcycle with two passengers was following the victims’ black pickup truck in Barangay Sto. Rosario. The victims were with their child and a young relative.

The riders stopped the motorcycle, and one of them walked towards the vehicle, then the duo fled the scene a few seconds later.

According to the police investigation, Arvin was shot six times and Lerma three. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News