MANILA, Philippines — The niece-in-law of Second District Quezon Rep.Vicente Alcala was shot dead Tuesday night by still unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants, radio dzMM reported.
The victim was identified in the report as 38-year-old Rhine Christine “Arlene” Briones Alcala, estranged wife of Sajid Alcala, whose father, Cerilo “Athel” Alcala, is the brother of Vicente and former Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.
The report quoted the police as saying that the victim was driving her car when the assailants shot her several times in Quezon province’s Brgy. Ilayang Iyam, Lucena City. Arlene was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Arlene was arrested in September 2016 for her alleged involvement in the narcotics trade in Quezon and was later freed on bail.
Quezon police director Senior Supt. Antonio Yarra said last year that Arlene was a “high value target” on the local police’s drug watch list.
In November 2016, Sajid was arrested, along with his brother, Acer Olliriz Abutin Alcala, alias Red-Red, and four others, during a buy-bust at his residence in Brgy. Balubal, Sariaya, Quezon.
Sajid and his father, both suspected drug lords, already surrendered to the police in August last year but Sajid was released because of lack of charges, while Cerilo was placed under hospital arrest.
