Boracay’s beaches were marred by a violent assault on Julian Estrada, son of Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, and his nephew Jefferelly Vitug. The attack, occurring at 2:17 a.m. near Summer Place Bar, was triggered by a taunt, “Masyado kang maangas” (You’re too arrogant).
Three local men beat Julian, 29, causing a head wound and chipped tooth, while Jefferelly, 24, suffered a nose injury requiring medical care.
Jinggoy Estrada filed physical injury charges, calling the incident unprovoked, after which he made a startling claim: these suspects are the same rapist-murderers who killed 23-year-old Slovakian tourist Michaela Mickova on March 12, 2025. With these suspects still free, Boracay’s safety faces intense scrutiny.
The assault unfolded rapidly. Julian and Jefferelly, returning to their hotel, were ambushed by the trio. Julian’s Instagram post, requesting recovery time “physically and mentally,” highlighted the trauma, worsened by online critics blaming him.
Jinggoy, rushing to Boracay, condemned the attack as cowardly. His revelation tied the suspects to Mickova’s killing, found raped and beaten in an abandoned chapel.
Autopsy reports confirmed sexual assault and head trauma, with a police reenactment suggesting a planned crime. Estrada’s assertion that the same men are responsible has heightened fears, as no convictions have been secured.
Boracay’s reputation as a tourist haven is at risk. Estrada’s call for a Philippine National Police (PNP) investigation underscores the suspects’ alleged dual crimes—assaulting a senator’s family and murdering a visitor.
The lack of official PNP confirmation linking the cases fuels uncertainty, but the suspects’ freedom alarms residents and tourists. Estrada’s demand for justice, as a father and senator, amplifies the urgency to address this threat.
The suspects, charged but not convicted, pose a persistent danger. Estrada’s claim, if proven, suggests a pattern of predatory violence that Boracay’s authorities must confront. The island, vital to Philippine tourism, cannot afford to let such threats linger.
