Cebu disc jockey Marie Alexi “Maxi” Bolongaita, 29, who traced her roots to Bohol was shot dead on Thursday morning inside her house in Sitio Nivel Hills, Barangay Busay, Cebu City.

Her alleged assailant identified by Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak as Reynante Mambiar Mendador, 36, was arrested a few hours after.

Mendador was found in critical condition at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, said Tumalak in a Facebook post.

“Mambiar’s motorcycle and bloodied clothes were recovered together with the victim’s belongings like her bag and cellphone,” Tumulak added.

Mendador reportedly sustained a gunshot wound on his face and a stab wound on his shoulder which were believed to have been caused by a struggle between Bolongaita and the suspect.

Meanwhile, Supt. Ryan Devaras, chief of the Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB) of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), told Cebu media that they are eyeing robbery as the crime’s motive.

A .22 caliber pistol was found in the crime scene but Bolongaita’s gunshot wounds were apparently from a higher caliber pistol indicating that the retrieved gun was not the murder weapon.

The victim’s bullet wounds matched that of a .38 caliber pistol, which police are still looking for, said Devaras.

“Ang pusil sa suspect is 38 caliber which matches sa gunshot wounds sa victim na medyo dagko,” he added.

On Friday, the suspect was reportedly subjected to a paraffin test and its result is expected to come out within the day.

Bolongaita, who was a DJ for 89.1 Power FM  and Miss Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)–Cebu in 2016, traced her roots to Bohol, particularly Panglao.

Her father, Alex Bolongaita, is a native of the town and was a broadcaster for a radio station in Bohol before relocating to Cebu. (A. Doydora)